"Works for me," Kryschenn replied, absently twisting a lock of hair into a braid. "And with Iris playing along on the lute, this will be soooo romantic. We just have to hope those two get the message."She shook her head in amazement as she watched Cole, now smartly attired in Hank's Ranger outfit. "The chutzpah of that guy," she said with a smile. "He mentioned that he found that costume just lying around. You know what? I think he broke into Hank's room and swiped it. I had no idea Cole had a death wish, did you?"
She laughed again, taking in the magnificent ballroom and the elegant costumes. She was definitely feeling out of place with her Xena-esque attire, but Kimmy's trick-or-treat costume made her feel a little better.
"I wonder where Faira is," she asked, looking at the magically disguised faerie but not quite recognizing her. "I was going to ask her to make sure Hank and Sheila dance together, since we'll be too busy performing to push them out on the dance floor." The plan began to rapidly congeal in her mind as she watched more cotumed guests enter. She thought she recognized Eric in a very rich ermine cloak and the very height of expensive courtly attire.
"Okay, first we get them to dance to our song. Then, if they aren't all over each other, what we'll do is this. I'll start a little, um, casual flirtation with Hank, just to get him a little interested." She readjusted her leather bodice again and was satisfied with the effect. "Then we all need to start taling to the princess about Venger- about anything, the topic doesn't matter. What we have to do is get Hank involved in the conversation. That's Cole's signal, and should give him time to work his magic on Sheila, and hopefully Hank will get jealous but he won't be able to do anything right away because it would be a seriously rude thing to walk away when royalty is speaking to you. Okay, then, right when the conversation ends and Hank starts moving in for the kill, er...I mean, when Hank goes to try to cut in between Cole and Sheila, then I grab him...by the ARM, don't look at me like that! Anyway, then I give him the 'what's your hurry' routine and all, and hopefully at that time he's so green with jealousy that he blurts out his feelings for Sheila...and you all witness it! Then, that's Cole's signal to run. Okay?"
Then, she added, "And hopefully we'll get some useful information out of the princess in the process. Uh, oh." She had just looked up and recognized Hank as he entered the ballroom. The figure he was with was hooded and masked; she couldn't tell if it was Sheila or not. But she did notice the startled but appreciative look her costume got out of him. "Well, this just may be effective after all," she whispered to Cassandra. She returned the smile, then watched his expression with amusement as his eyes fell on Cole.
