Since Mardi Gras or Carnivale is such an international Holiday, and some of my readers are from all over the world, (Waving across oceans to you all!), I thought I would include a little bit of Mardi Gras for our friends.
DISCLAIMER: I am celebrating Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year by getting Chinese food for dinner. How international of this little Long Island Girl!! Other than that, I own nothing.
February - MARDI GRAS
One of the disadvantages in working for a state run agency is that sometimes you just had to do things you hated. Because some jerk psychologist thought that team building and connecting events would 'heal' them after Bosco and his team got shot, here she was. If she had been in a party mood, she would admit this was quite the event. They had been all instructed to attend, and for once, no crime spree got them out of it. None of them really wanted to be there. They were instructed to wear Green, Gold or Purple for Mardi Gras and wear masks.
The universal silence signaled their shared dismay at the 'invitation' and instructions. As they all began to put in their excuses, Lisbon held up her hand.
"I hate it too, but there is no getting out of it. Even you, Jane, they expect you there. So, we all go, we behave, and yes, I mean you Jane, and get out as fast as possible. Yes, I know, we are all still in mourning, but there we are."
"Can we wear black?" Cho's question startled them all. "Look, we go and put on some idiot crap, but wear it with black."
"I like it" Quiet rule following Grace agreed. "We all wear masks and some beads, stay just long enough and leave. If Jane keeps his mouth shut, we can sneak out early and get something to eat together?"
They all looked at Patrick Jane. He was the lynch pin in this plan. If they could all stay under the radar, they could get out of staying too long. These team building exercises were getting on all their nerves. He nodded in agreement. Wanting to mourn in your own way was something he understood. He knew the evening would be ripe with possibilities to amuse himself, but for these people, he would refrain.
Lisbon looked around for everyone that evening. Wayne's height made him and therefore Grace easy to spot. She was wearing a short black dress with a wide scooped neck. Her face was almost half covered with a bejeweled gold mask. Wayne stood a small distance away, at least trying to be circumspect until any man dared to put some beads around her neck. Then the big man, dressed in a tight black t-shirt and jeans would step forward and the foolish soul would melt away. Even though he wore a plain purple mask, Teresa was pretty sure the set of his jaw and his large physique was enough to scare others away. She really couldn't say anything. They weren't even touching. She should just ignore them.
She found Cho on the stairs leading out of the huge ballroom. How the state managed to find money for this nonsense was beyond her. Some foundation she had heard or something. The AG's wife came from money and apparently knew people.
Cho's sense of humor had come out. He was wearing a black jacket over a black turtle necked shirt. His mask was like Wayne's but deep green in color and the black fedora gave him a rakish look. He looked for all the world like Kato or the Green Hornet. He gave her a quick nod and motioned with his head toward Van Pelt and Rigsby. He would always let her know where her team was located. Teresa realized she leaned on that steady loyalty.
A pair of hands grasped her shoulders and spun her before she could even react. Her first instinct was to deck the offender. Luckily, she recognized Jane's scent before she even knew it. She almost laughed. He had gone along with the black, but wore a black dress shirt and yes, a black vest over it. His mask was made of the same material as the one around her eyes, but plainer.
"Want tto show'em for some beads?" He teased? In his hand was a large pile of green beads. Lord knows where he had gotten them.
Jane tried to keep his voice steady and light but was stunned by Teresa's appearance. He had expected her to show up in black work clothes and sensible shoes. Her short black dress dipped low to a V over her smooth back and low in the front as well. He knew that green feathered mask would only highlight the green of her eyes. It seemed a shame to drape anything as tawdry as cheap plastic beads over all that lovely skin.
"Jane, don't grab me like that. I almost tackled you."
"Well, if I ask you to dance will you maim me?"
"Get rid of the beads first."
As he swung her onto the dance floor, he noted Van Pelt and Rigsby were there ahead of them, as was Cho with his girlfriend. Knowing she would be calmer if all her team was accounted for, he pointed this out to her.
She smiled, unaware of how mysterious it seemed under a mask. She fit into his arms better than he liked to notice.
"You are wearing very high heels today."
"Yeah, I know you think I live in sensible shoes, but it is fun to dress up. I just wish it weren't wasted on such a dopey event."
"I know you don't want to be here, but just for tonight, enjoy yourself. You so rarely allow yourself to."
She pulled back a little at that, ready to take offense. He pulled her back closer with more strength than she expected.
"For this moment, your team is all here, and safe. The room is beautiful and festive. Your world is hard. Lent and penance are for tomorrow. Stay and savor, even for this moment."
It was nice, she admitted to herself. The live orchestra was amazing, she loved to dress up and Jane was a great dancer. Just for this moment, she thought.
Just a little bit of fluff. I like dressing them up and making them go out. I guess it's the 7 year old playing with Barbie dolls still living in me. Speaking of dolls, could I have a set of Mentalist dolls? No? How about some reviews??