Museum in a city in northeastern Italy with genuine historical masks in display during Carnevale was a time for Cassim family. Some how handing over historic masks from their private collection to be showed with others was a risky move. They had three masks in that traveling collection, One was carved from surface of a colossal deepwater pearl and called the Vintage Smile. Matching pair with called the Moonlight and Sunlight Mask,was carefully crafted from the fragile surface of a single stone. Black one symbolizing the Moon was made from single lava rock. Dull yellow one symbolizing the Moon was made from single and unpolished nesosilicate mineral. Lighten dusted and covered with paint infused diamond dust. Made to match the average face of an adult male back in time period they were crafted by hands.
Meant a representative of the family had to be present when the masks were handed over and be put on display in the public. Person to stay in Venice and wait for the masks to move onto the next institution or foundation for public observation. Came in the form of Cynthia Emelia Cassim and her only son staying with in a Venice estate on the Grand Canal Veneto. A wheel chair bond aunt Dyeus and her long time nurse of the male gender were their company for now.
Bringing back memories for someone
"Isamu!" A name was yelled through out the halls.
Looking for one's son in the halls of house she hadn't been in since she was on that world tour with her late parents as a youth. Her voice echoing off the walls that looked more lively after the hours of restoration work went into it. Covered in artwork that had been moved from secured vacation house in Veracruz, Mexico to what she saw now as she walked. Every now and then she stopped into look in one of the rooms on floors she climb up fro some sign of life. What she found was furniture that she carelessly bounced on back during her youthful years under supervision of her nanny. Brought back memories of when she in the same room as her parents and told she was coming to Japan with them. Smile spread spread across her face when memories of when she met Suhara and they days they spent together.
"Isamu!" She placed her hands on her stomach and thought of her son.
She ended up sitting down on the armrest of a Chantelle Sofa w/3 Pillows in Pearl White with nostalgia over when she was pregnant. Months her pregnant teenage self spent alone and isolated in the care of her late grandmother's UK property. Watchful eyes of medical staff and house staff until nine months later and her son's birth was drug induced haze. Brought tears to her eyes and drew her from reel of images that had flashed in her head like slow motion camera.
"My little Isamu!" Her voice got more quiet.
Her small tears grew in number when a gripping sadness started to over take her heart and distract her from the food steps. Sounds of soles belonging to a pair of boots, that came in a calf length and made from the finest of Italian leather. Laces and straps properly secured like the rest of a 18th cnetury themed attire from tailored trousers that button. Billowy shirt made from '700 made of cotton blend, mandarin collar and fonfo cascade of lace. Hand embodied waistcoat with matching gloves and De' Medici hat. A Black cape trimmed with gold fridge along the hem hang off one of the arms. Who'd enter the room she was in and ask if everything was alright with her. Plans he had to meet up with his father and Carmen for their latest caper could be put on hold.
"No! Go." She sniffled while wiping away her tears. "i am just coming to grips with you being..."
"What?" He noticed her staring."Where's your mask?" She came to ask looking over his outfit. "You can't go out during Carnival with a distinctive mask."
He ended pointing out that his mask lay on a near by table of the very room she was in with ear buds and an array of gadgets. Each one held a special design by the nimble hands of billy for him to use while on different heists with Carmen. Besides wireless ear buds and mask that has auto and visual altering feature to keep his identity a secret when in public.
"Is this what we get for having relatives proficiency in NCP Coding and Degrees in Computer Science from UCLA in 1969? I mean one used to work in the department that created those cool agents those spy used." She tried to recall what Billy's parents pasts.
"Their talent rubbed off on their daughter." He was impressed.
"Tells me what of me rubbed off on you?" She asked. "He certainly inherited a lot of your father."
"Skilled in origami, highly agile, expert in stealth, and learning to use a sword." He listed a few.
Somehow led to the topic he never knew about a his father's older brother and reason why his mother was looking for him. She wanted to inform her son about meeting Hideo earlier that day when scholars were gathered and briefed on thieves. Shown pictures with a warning to avoid by ACME when told how they would attempt to steal the masks. Had only women with the most masks in the traveling collection in group of educated men. Get a lot of attention from them when assured the displays were being closely. Just one that gave her the most was one that recognized her and asked in a neutral tone; about her recent activities. She ended up speaking about how she been re- building her life by selling off material gain she didn't need anymore. Looking into buying property and trying to become apart of her son's life along side what was left of her family.
"I have an uncle?" Isamu asked in shock.
"On your father's side name Hideo and the more scholarly and responsible." She shifted her eyes.
"...reason you never brought this up..." He felt she was holding back.
"Their not on the best of terms." She didn't want to explain.
How could she explain in her own way about a rift that formed between them over simple and poor life they lived. One Shadowsan disagreed and rebelled against by joining the Yakuza, stealing the katana of a legendary samurai's daishÅ. Before he could steal the accompanying wakizashi, Hideo foiled him and Shadowsan fled with the stolen sword.
"They hadn't spoke while becoming estranged." She fiddled her fingers around.
"..." Isamu had to seat down.
Watching your son walk passed you and flop down on the cushion seat next to you in complete silence was a scary sight. He barely made a noise when he took those few steps and moved to sit down with his eyes wide open the whole time. Left his mother to turn toward him and had one of his gloves hands placed in her face to keep her from saying anything. Stayed like that until he released a breath upon straightening his posture when moving his feet around under him.
"Anything else you want to tell me?" He came to ask.
"No, just go have a good time." She gently shoves him.
He stopped near a small butsudan was hidden away. Sitting on a rectangular shelf were pictures of Isamu's great- grandparents. Worn candlesticks, incense burners, and bells were all arranged accordingly. Newly placed offerings had been placed on correct platforms with newly lit incense sticks.
"We need to add their pictures to this." He spoke of his grandparents. "We can't exchange them anymore."
"I agree" His mother came to agree.
He ended up asking them to watch over him for what he been doing a women his great- grandmother wouldn't like his hanging around. Making sure to lit a new incense stick and place it beside the first one in the holder after he prayed to them.
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Staying out of the sight during the whole heist was hard from when he watched Carmen, Zac, and Shadown enter the museum. Waiting with a grin on face when Zac tries to stick to the proper verbal exercises he was taught to speak Italian. Not like the request Carmen made for a bottle of olive oil didn't bother him a little once he was done laughing about Zac. Trying to stay calm enough to hear the signal to get Zac out of the way once his part of the plan is over. Left him with a lot time to fill unable to carry a conversation on with Billy or Player since Carmen ordered radio silence. Left him to check out a local vendor selling a few museum souvenirs that circled around the global mask exhibit.
"Do you have of the Vintage Smile, Moonlight and Sunlight Masks? " He made a odd request. "I want to but them
for a friend."
Vendor thought how odd his request he had that night after fulfilling one earlier that day for a women in red outerwear. The women with longest and curled Auburn hair he ever seen gave him 167.16 Euro for two copies of fake masks. Which he did while she kept her face hidden for his eyes the whole the transaction took place in clear day light. As if she was being watched by the undercover ACME agents that were undercover and blended into the crowd of civilians.
"Here you go." Vendor would exchange the three masks for a few Euro.
"Thanks." Isamu walked away.
He slowly to came to walk back to the meeting point while looking over the fine detail that was put into false version of Cassim property. Recalling the stories of why the masks were so special to them since the were molded after his ancestral mother's face. Vintage Smile was copied after only smiling once in her life after her arranged marriage. Moonlight and Sunlight Masks were copied after expressions she made when telling her first lie followed by a single truth. Commissioned by the man she came call her husband since she died soon after the birth of their 6th child.
"I like to see the shell of the large bivalve mollusk the pearl that made the Vintage Smile came from..." Isamu flipped the mask he got around.
He ended up adjusting the elastic string that was securely tied to the either end when he started to peer at the back. Solid piece of plastic that had eyes and mouth mouth clearly cut out with the impressions of the mask clearly made. Had him wondering maybe he should have been part of the committee that was incharge of git shop ranked merchandise. A bit of ribbon could be used instead of some cheap string with elastic fibers tied to randomly placed holes. Being that really Vintage Smile had a ribbon that could use to fasten the mask in place on who ever were to wear it. Was going to be noticed by Mime Bomb and Neal the Eel when they physically touched or took a full look at the piece.
Made his sigh when he placed the fake in his leather satchel just carelessly laid within sidecar attacked to his Ducati brand motorcycle. He sat on the main seat with his eyes on the where Zac was to exit when his part of the plan was done. Relaxing his body to the point he'd be more comfortable while still counting the seconds of how long he needed to wait. Not that notion of wearing a wrist watch ever passed his mind since he had a clock on his phone to check. Just hew knew if he pulled the device out of the inner pocket of his wait coat and tapped on the screen even once. He would be tempted to check in with his mom and the rest of his relatives while play a few games needing a wireless connection.
"..." He ended up sighing. "I should have continued my searched for her mother."
He forgot once more to message Billy and ask for an update on what she found on a women by the name of Vera Cruz; from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Made him thankful for having his mother in his life after the years the two spent apart. While trying to figure out how they could have fathers that were both former members of V.I.L.E. Faculty and Stealth 101 teachers. Which scared him since he and Carmen in their individual ways of being surreptitious during their burglarizes.
"Note to self, become more self aware when ever we procreate." He whispered about a possible future.
Coating of red on his cheeks lasted for more then second since the sounds of a alarm system going off had him grabbing a helmet. Since he would end up tossing the helmet toward Zac as soon as he came running out of the building. Words weren't exchanged between them when one started the engine of his bike as he got on with other getting into side car.
"Car We Get Out Of Here!" Zac pounded on the windshield of the sidecar.
"You better hold on and make sure the helmet is on." Isamu warned him.
"I'll Eat An Eel To Just Get You Going!" Zac knocked on the helmet he put on.
Isamu still wasn't moving until Zac actually connected the buckle to secure the head protection upon his own cranium. Which Zab picked up on with a huff before he sat back with his arms crossed and his eyes forward as bike started to move. Only bringing up how Isamu wasn't wearing a helmet when the bike start to pick up speed after a sharp turn. He was left unanswered when sirens of police cars and ACME swarming the the area ended up worsening his silence. Had him looking to back of Isamu's head and to the sight of the Museum slowly fading behind him. Flashing lights and loud sounds were slowly drowned out by the street music of people celebrating Carnevale. A crowd quickly formed around them of people in traditional Venetian carnival costumes and distinctive masks. Giving their compliments on one of their own on a bike just driving around while a few were impressed by the his ride.
"I kinda feel like I am out my league here." Zac whispered.
"Better then being arrested by ACME or the police?" He came to be asked about where he would have been.
"Shouldn't you be wearing a helmet?" He countered.
"Really?" Does went his head with released breath.
Off went the De' Medici hat and his mask he wore for a strange helmet he kept in a small storage bin at the end of this bike's back seat. Zac swore he could see a outline of a wolf's head in small detail throughout the head wear with carbon based fray. All black coloring only added to mystic that had developed from image of a man using a wolf persona. Scared him when pulled on Isamu's face and most of his head with strapped being buckled from the back of his head.
"Better?" Isamu asked Zac.
"..." Zac just stared at him.
"You said to put a helmet on." Isamu didn't understand.
"Didn't mean you had to look like a werewolf." Zac mumbled.
A eye roll and a sigh came before the helmet's design was a gift from Billy to keep up with the reputation his created for himself. Had the same features of the masks he usual wore with just added measure of being worn for a protective measure. One that must have been shared with his mom and dad since they both had heard about his activities.
"I prefer your wolf themed masks over this." Zac came to shared.
"Your shitting me?" Isamu asked on verge of laughing.
"Nope." Zac turned his head away.
"I think this calls for a reward." Isamu mentioned food. "You do drink? Since legal age to drink here is 16."
"I am old enough." He proudly proclaimed.
"Then I'll pay for everything." Isamu pulled out his phone.
Words of a Venice food tour or a good pub crawl came out of Isamu's lips when he reached for his phone to look up for any available ones. Got Zac so fired up to his roar was almost heard when over the fan fare of the Carnevale and music that was playing. Left Isamu to quickly search when the results popped up on his phone with request from Billy came in. She wanted LOTS of pictures over any piece of merchandise one could buy from a gift shop or street vendor. Making sure he gets good ones that weren't blurred out or out of focused shots of something sent to her. Player didn't care either way since he was to busy with Carmen and Shadowsan when he was asked about wanting anything. Ivy ended up giving them a list of thing she wanted them to get her before she was even asked.