It would have been an odd sight, if there were enough light to see by. The jolly boat swept in towards the shore, quick and quiet. Calliope sat in the back, dressed in a black ball dress that hung from one shoulder and clung to the taper of her body. The dress was made of several overlaid layers of thin black silk which gave it the appearance of a dark storm cloud when she moved. It had been altered to hug her form by the crew, many of whom were actually skilled with needle work from long years darning sails. She wore long black riders boots of polished black leather and had ruby bracelets and a choker around her neck. All of that finery was concealed beneath a blanket that wrapped her from head to toe, both to protect her clothing and keep her from catching what little moonlight there was. Markus was similarly swaddled to protect his own 'glad rags' as they swept in towards the beach.

"Keep to the plan," Markus said gruffly as the prow of the jolly boat crunched into the sand in the secluded cove west of the town. Calliope could see fireworks bursting above the tree line as the celebration continued, the distant boom, boom, boom thudding in syncope to her own heart beat.

"Ma'am," Sorn said nervously and Calliope nodded. The sailor lifted her bodily and stepped into the waist deep water, keeping her held up above the water to protect her clothes. Two sailors were doing the same for Markus, the indignity necessary for the to successfully pose as guests at the party. Within a few minutes they were both on the beach, dry and more or less unruffled. Calliope shrugged of the blanket and tossed it to Sorn. Were it not for the pirates hastily getting the boat back into the water they could have been a regular couple out for a stroll, albeit one that had strayed a little too far from town.

"We had best get going," she said, straightening Markus' vest.

"We don't want to miss the big show."