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[nostalgiabomb]

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[animated]

I might even be tempted to start the party in the car on the way back.

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[ He hums, smirking. ] Gonna go ahead and check off "Exhibitionist" on your list, then.

[animated]

I guess I'll give you that one.

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I'm learning so many fun things about you, lately. It's kind of awesome.

[animated]

I think you should really return he favor and tell me some things about you one day.

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What're you talking about? I'm an open book.

[ He's also a liar, and he offers Charlie a smirk. Once they're back in the party proper, Peter takes a quick look around, absorbs the details in a glance as they move.

The host of the party is interrupted mid-conversation by a small, prim younger man -- another assistant, if Peter had to make a guess. Men in suits -- sharp but plain (uniforms, maybe?) -- are scanning the crowd, eyes sharp when before they were only staring. A couple of those men are breaking off to enter the kitchens.

Peter ducks down, his expression unchanging, under the guise of intimate conversation. ]

Something's wrong. We've gotta leave now.

[animated]

[ He blinks a couple of times, startled before he remembers to school his expression into something neutral. ]

What is it?

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[ Peter's the picture of calm and pleasant. He nods to another guest as they pass by, still leading the two of them toward the exit. ]

Pretty sure your new girlfriend just got ratted out.

[animated]

Shit, really? [ are they going to leave her here? They just can't leave her here... fuck. ]

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[ Peter's plan is totally to leave her here, but that's because he's a selfish prick.

He turns to check on the guards, inclining his head a little to make it look as though he's greeting someone. Those that entered the kitchen have left and are walking toward the hallway Peter and Charlie just left. ]

Any chance someone might've overheard you in the kitchen?

[animated]

I don't know. I guess there's always a chance.

[ He chances a look at the hallway ] Think she made it out okay?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He pauses, then pulls a face. ]

You-- you don't wanna check do you?

[animated]

I... yeah. Yeah I do.

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[ The exit is just right there, and they could totally just cheese it. Apparently they haven't been caught out just yet, and if they're quick about it, they won't be caught out at all.

Still, Peter hesitates.

Eventually he sighs -- loudly -- and gives Charlie a look that basically screams, Maxwell, you're so not cut out for this line of work. He starts hurrying back to the hallway. ]

You owe me for this, Glinda.

[animated]

Sorry. Bleeding heart and all.

[ just gonna follow along, then! ]

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[ He just gives another huff. ]

Any idea where her office is or anything?

[animated]

Not really, but she went back this way--

[ and it is at that point that from somewhere down the hall, there comes the distinctive sound of a woman screaming. The party goes still for a moment, the crowd quieting.

Charlie swears under his breath ]

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[ Peter freezes for a moment. ]

-- Well, shit.

[ Then starts running down the hall, trusting that Charlie will follow. ]

[animated]

[ He does follow, unable to stop thinking this is all my fault like some kind of horrible mantra. He really isn't cut out for this line of work- the whole Robin Hood shtick was fine, he could deal with that. Nameless thugs and Kree fanatics who would rather shoot first and ask questions later? Yeah, sure, let's take 'em out.

But innocent people? Shit, fuck, his conscience won't allow it.

So when he rounds the corner and finds one of the guards has the woman by the arms, keeping them pinned behind her back, while the other winds up to hit her again, Charlie does the first thing that comes to mind.

And that is fling out a quick spell that sends a decorative vase flying at the back of the guard's head. ]

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[ That guard stumbles before falling to a knee, leaving the woman and the guard restraining her to gape in surprise.

Then up strolls Peter, unbuttoning his coat. He taps the remaining guard on the shoulder, and when the guard turns, he elbows him in the nose, feels the sensitive cartilage crack under the blow. The guard releases the woman and clutches at his face, his howls muffled by his hands. Peter grabs a nearby statuette, hefts it to test its weight, and clubs the guard on the head with it, knocking the man unconscious.

The first guard is slowly regaining his bearings -- at least until Peter notices and drives a hard kick into the side of the head. He, too, falls silent. ]

[animated]

[ Well that-

That was possibly the most badass and sexy thing Charlie's ever seen, and he actually stares for a moment. Oh yeah, he thinks. Peter is really good at this sort of thing, isn't he? It's easy to forget when Peter acts like such a goober all the time.

But the moment of awe and wonder quickly passes when the assistant asks what the hell they're doing here. Charlie turns to her. ]

We need a way out. You got one?

[ She purses her lips, looking between the two of them, before apparently deciding fuck it, she was in over her head already. Might as well go all the way. She turns to head down the hall, moving towards the back of the building, and motions for them to follow ]

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[ Once both guards are out of commission, Peter puts the statuette back in its proper place. He rolls his shoulders, buttoning his coat back up again (because while he's channeling Bond, he might as well commit, right?).

It's when he's smoothing out his clothes again that he feels Charlie's eyes on him, and he favors him with a quick wink and a smirk. Smug bastard.

And then they're following the assistant, and Peter murmurs, ]

You're welcome, by the way.

[ Jeez. Where's the gratitude? ]

[animated]

[ Peter is a smug bastard, but fuck if Charlie isn't 100% attracted. (though, at his muttering, Charlie shoots him a look that says Be nice.)

They reach the end of a hallway and round a corner, the assistant approaches what seems to be a very plain section of wall. She slides a panel aside, revealing a place to swipe a key card of some sort- which she does. Nothing really happens, aside from a soft bzzt noise sounding. She tries again, to the same effect.

"Shit. He disabled my access codes already." ]

I got it. Just show me where the door is exactly. [ And to Peter, ] Watch our backs?

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[ He gives Charlie a smart salute as he falls back a few steps. ]

Sir, yes, sir.

[ Granted, he doesn't have much in the way of defending himself, considering he came in weaponless, but Peter's nothing if not resourceful. He'll just chuck something, if he has to -- preferably something extremely valuable. ]

[animated]

[ Charlie hates mechanical doors. They're always a pain in his ass- give him a good ol' deadbolt on good ol' hinges any day. It takes a little more effort to force something with so many moving parts into compliance.

So when the woman outlines the location of the door to him, it takes him a little while to get the spellwork right. Long enough that a pair of guards come barreling around the corner. ]