No such unfamiliarity or discomfort presented itself in Elisabeth Fiorelli. Not in a ballroom.

She parted the sea of masked faces with all the glittering ease of a knife, cutting through the rabble with the stiff-necked posture of a queen. Were her royal blue gown and sequined mask not enough for her partner to recognize her, the white roses in her hair were a defining mark to ensure no confusion between them.

As it happened, "Rose" was her name for this event. On-the-nose, perhaps, but Elisabeth couldn't resist puns.

When she found her companion amidst the endless display of opulence and wealth, she gently placed a gloved hand on her shoulder, offering a coy smile.

"Pardon me, but I had to compliment you on your choice of gown," she said, her emerald eyes appraising it thoughtfully. "It's exquisite. You outshine the entirety of the room." And though the sentiment was sincere, it was merely a precursor for what she spoke next in a low whisper: "I'm afraid there's a loose thread dangling behind you, however. Shall I remedy that?"

Anyone who might overhear -- and in places like this, someone was always bound to -- might imagine what happened next to be a simple kindness between two strange women in a sparkling masquerade.

Instead, a tiny sachet slipped between her fingertips and slyly found itself in a secret fold of the other woman's gown, the concentrated Vileplume's POISON POWDER within it their mutual weapon of choice for the evening.

"Have you met anyone of interest?" Elisabeth asked pleasantly. As if this were any other party, and not one where they intended to ensure a powerful defector of Rocket met his fateful end. "Rumor has it there is a man who always attends these events in the most dramatic fashion. Houndoom horns, hellish flame, it's all Red Masque and cliché of him. I wonder if he'll make his infamous appearance?"

That's our mark, her eyes said silently. He'll be here soon.

Wealth and prestige had protected this traitor against the usual methods that such betrayal against Rocket would earn, leaving him safe and sound in his gilded cage of safety.

Which was why Rocket had sent two other birds in, capable of infiltrating the higher echelons of Hoenn's elite without scaring him away.

Wicked Winds ✿ A Little Party Never Killed Nobody ✿ Jessica Manner