Post by mephisto on Jul 4, 2011 11:25:51 GMT -5
[/b] New York City[/ul]
A lone man, walking the back alleys of the big city at night. It should have been easy; that's what the upstart hoodlums who'd followed this guy for half a block thought, anyways. What's more, the chump had wandered right into a dead-end, no doubt trying to escape and failing utterly.
That's what they thought.
"Alright yo." The one leading the pack of four or five sneered, looking over their prey for the night. The man they now had cornered was pretty tall, but other than that looked every inch like a self-important businessman or CEO out for a stroll. Certainly, no one could deny that the large dark-blue trench coat and fancy Italian boots gave this man the aura of money and swank. The thugs had hit the jackpot tonight! "Wallet, watch, all of it on the ground, now," He flicked open a butterfly knife and held it up so the soon-to-be-victim could see it. "Or things get bloody, ya hear?"
"An dat coat, too!" One of the others chimed in, obviously keen to the man's most obvious possession.
There was a chuckle, an amused laugh from the cornered man who still had his back to the lowlifes. This didn't sit well with the lead gangster. "You think we playin', fool? I said now, or I cut you up but good."
Slowly, the man turned around to face his assailants... and they froze, terror written bold across their faces. His eyes glowed hot white in the dark, his unearthly gaze filled with hunger, his fingers on the triggers of a match set of jet black Glock pistols. Three shots rang out. Three bodies hit the floor. Only one, the arrogant leader of the group, remained. He trembled from head to toe, knife dropped in a sudden panic, and he screamed as he turned to run. The man with the guns let him go... although a demonic voice echoed in the fleeing hoodlum's mind as he ran.
~You're all the same; foolish little souls, blind in your arrogance. No one will miss you; none shall mourn you when you fade away. Scum like you are a dime a dozen, cheap as dirt and just as easily trampled underfoot. So run, run for your miserable little life!~ There was a laughing, mocking tone in the demon-man's ethereal tone. ~But know that when you stop running, when you think you're hidden and safe, I will be there.~
As the hellish laughter echoed in the thug's terror-stricken skull, the man in the trench coat turned his attention to the bodies that lay before him... and smiled, seeing the glowing luminescent orbs of disembodied souls hanging over each one. A little snack to quiet the hunger, for a time... and then he'd be on his way.
The heavy pulse and thrum of techno filled the night club just as surely as the parade of laser-lights and haze from fog machines. The Black Sapphire was a shadowy establishment for shadowy individuals, secreted away in the NYC underground. Its patrons, all of whom paid top dollar for exclusive membership passes, had to traverse a set of old unused subway tunnels just to reach the front door and, once inside, abide by a strict set of rules. In one corner kingpins of crime haggled over their take from various "legitimate enterprises", in another a cadre of mercenaries and a potential employer hashed out the details of their next hit. On the dance floor and at the bar, sitting in front of a sumptuous meal or a blackjack spread, the underworld of the city that never sleeps mingled, mixed, and spent ill-gotten gains in the safety and seclusion of this private retreat. And it wasn't just humans, either; though they were more closely watched than the common mortals, a small handful of select Witches, Kishin Eggs, and rogue Weapons and Meisters frequented the establishment as favored patrons... and their needs were catered to accordingly.
As Mephisto entered the black double doors, a plethora of sights and smells greeted him. A grave-looking skeletal fellow and a rotund, bulbous woman sat together at a table, each eagerly devouring a platter of human souls. Atrel Tyche, the latest addition to the staff, sat in full arcane costume before a crystal ball set with runes, regaling those patrons who were of such a mind with hinting visions of the present, past, and future -- for a tidy sum, of course. Her fingers played gracefully over the shimmering orb as she worked a witchcraft that was one part authentic scrying and three parts showmanship; everyone knew her predictions weren't perfect, but that didn't stop a few eager enthusiasts from seeking glimpses of their fortunes in the mists of the aether. The bouncers Jace and Kate were a pair of tough-as-nails inner city kids who had to be amongst the most frisky Demon Weapons that Mephisto had ever met, and their Meister, the lovely bartender Ellisa, had on rare occasions turned the pair of twin Demon Meat Cleavers loose on unruly customers with an intensity and passion that seldom showed past her pleasant, flirty demeanor.
He tossed the twins each a short wad of bills and nodded to Ellisa as he pulled up a seat at the bar. It was busy tonight; the dance floor was packed with seedy, unsavory individuals shaking their stuff alongside the club's in-house escorts. The Black Sapphire prided itself on being able to provide clientele with various luxuries and pleasures... including female -- and, depending on gender and preference, male -- companionship of the more intimate sort. That was what made the dance floor so popular: it was a chance for those who were interested to flirt and compare before committing to the associated expense, while those who just simply wanted a to dance would find the experience most... evocative. That left the bar relatively empty, and Mephisto slid casually into a seat on the far end.
"What can I get you, stranger?" Ellisa leaned down close to him and inquired. She always called him that, even though she knew exactly who he was. Owning a place like this was a delicate balancing act and Mephisto had taken an approach of managing it from the shadows, appearing like just any regular customer when he occasionally stopped in during his travels.
This place, the Black Sapphire, was his project -- an experiment of sorts, a den of immorality he'd been building for the last ten years. Ellisa handled everything while he was away, often with ruthless efficiency and a keen eye to opportunity. Stumbling across her on the day she'd murdered her husband had to be one of Mephisto's luckiest strokes over the last century.
"An Emerald Sunset," He passed a sheet of paper to her, changing from an audible voice to a psychic one that only she would hear. ~And a few new guests.~
~Friends?~ She replied, thinking it instead of asking it aloud. She was long since used to telepathic conversation with her employer.
~No... not yet, anyway. Just people I've heard about through the grapevine. Some of them should prove quite interesting -- if they show up tonight, anything they want is on the house. I'm hoping to make some good connections either with or through them.~
~You're the boss.~ Ellisa smiled and turned to prepare his drink.
Mephisto smiled, a gesture that strangely glowed in the intermittent dark and pulsing dance lights. This, he suspected, would be a very interesting night... interesting indeed...[/blockquote]
[[RULES OF THE THREAD]]
This is an all-purpose thread for characters of an evil bent -- Kishin Eggs, witches, rogue Meisters, Dark Weapons, or just about anyone not affiliated with Shibusen / the Exorcists and not a "good guy". There are a few ground rules, though. (1) Don't trash the place. If you feel the need to fight or kill there's a place for that sort of thing out back (along with betting booths to bet on the fights, if you want) but don't roughhouse in the main areas. (2) The Black Sapphire is stocked with just about every carnal desire a character could want... BUT ProBoards TOS still apply. No graphic sexuality. Keep it between PG-13 and R, no NC-17. Other than that... have fun and be wicked!