Segue

[Seragil]

The tension in the room was thick and heavy and Baz the big earth elemental was scowling with frustration at the back of Trick's head, which had Phoenix raising an eyebrow slightly at him in return. Trick seemed cool and he wanted to like him. Baz could go suck an egg. At Trick's words, however, he understood instantly and as much as he would have loved to ease the way by just allowing Trick his phone he knew such an action would have a snowball effect in no time, and he had every other patron's privacy and protection to think of.

The second blow was the mention of the new boyfriend, which caused his eyes to flash with disappointment briefly, he wasn't overly surprised, however; Trick was a very attractive and charismatic guy, his type didn't tend to stay single for long. Harm was a lucky man. At Harm's greeting he smiled warmly and took the good looking blond's hand in return. At the compliment he looked down at his white and black zoot suit with its matching shoes, running his hand down the front of him self-consciously. His sister said he looked like a pimp and common in it, but he liked it and it wasn't like he had asked her to wear it.

"Thank you, I like yours too and I like your name, it's different and unique." He was tempted to make some kind of wise crack but figured the guy probably got those on a daily basis. Yeah. "Welcome to Club Zero." As he shook Harm's hand he realized just how good looking he really was, those blue eyes of his promised nothing but trouble; full of mischief and fun. Maybe they could all have some fun sometime? He instantly thought as he let go of the blond's hand, his eyes glinting with amusement and a touch of heat at the thought.

"The fae wants to take his damned phone in."

At Baz's words Phoenix lifted his head and looked at the elemental, his eyes instantly hard and angry, he glided towards the bouncer, stepping between Trick and Harm, brushing his hands lightly over the pair's shoulders reassuringly as he passed the pair, every step turned sleek and predatory. Baz's eyes opened wide in fear as Phoenix grabbed and squeezed his lower face in his right hand, his eyes serpentine and merciless.

"How dare you out who and what someone is!" he hissed quietly in outraged fury. "Your job is to allow the appropriate people into the club and prevent any recording devices from them to assure our patrons' privacy and protection. What is the point of that if your just going to spout your fucking mouth off?" he asked rhetorically, his anger causing a couple of his curls to turn into snakes. They snapped and hissed in Baz's face before he released him and shoved the bouncer a back a little so he was out of his personal space. "Our patrons' privacy is sacrosanct. Break the rule of secrecy again and it will be your last day here."  Turning his back on the bouncer her returned to Trick and Harm, his hair returning to their normal looking curls as he approached.

"I'm sorry Trick, he had no right, none whatsoever to out you. However, he is right. I can't allow you to take in your phones or smart watches or anything that can record stuff or take pictures. There is a good reason and if you will allow me to have them, I will store them in my personal locker and give you the key so you can just get them when you want to leave. Your drinks and anything else you might want will naturally be on me tonight, cause you know. You're both my VIP quests for the night," he said as an eager smile curled the corners of his mouth upwards. "I really want you both to have some fun and enjoy the club." With me, he wanted to add but once again he didn't want to impose and crash other people's party. Maybe he could get to hang out some other time.

[Pocky]

Trick had been looking for Phoenix's reaction to Harm being his new boyfriend and saw it come and go. When Phoenix and Harm shook hands, Trick did a rapid swipe of his hair and then messed with it before lowering his hand and smiling at Phoenix again. The bouncer behind Trick weighed in once more, repeating the essence of what Trick himself had said.

He turned and watched as Phoenix had a go at his staff member. Trick watched avidly. The snakes weren't obvious because of the angle that he stood, but because he was watching closely he didn't miss them either. His eyes were wide when Phoenix addressed him again, the long explanation one that eventually had Trick brimming with pleasure.

"Okay, cool. Thank you," he said, nodding and smiling. He held his phone out to Phoenix as he had on the day they'd met.

[pentagrandma]

Jess paid no mind to Phoenix’s warning of, “Oh buddy, you’re totally fucked!” Weren’t even enough cares in him to offer up a shrug to convey his dismissal. He reckoned he didn’t need to, anycase. It would come across just fine all on its own. Let him be ‘fucked.’ Hell, he might even like it.

Just as he was fixin’ to swallow down his second glass, the queen bitch turned up with his promised fucking – snatching the glass from his hand and orbiting him like some come-hither tyrant bent on gettin’ on every single one of his last nerves. Gone were the nights of having enough rope to get away with near about anything but murder. Felt like his damned leash just kept tightening.

“Well, hey there, puddin’-pie,” he drawled slow and cool, layin’ the southern honey on thick. “Ain’t you precious, comin’ by to check in on me – but don’t you worry your pretty little head none, I ain’t got a shift tonight.”

When Phaedre’s tour of him came full-circle, Jesse lowered the bottle of whiskey to his side and a little back, adjusting his hold so that the neck sat cradled loose between his index and middle finger. He was of a mind to make off with it, but someone else had cut him to the chase. His attempt to glare at whoever’d robbed him of his potential good-time was thwarted by Phaedre’s caressing hands on his jaw; so, instead, his scowl was aimed at her.

[Existentially Odd]

Harm had watched the whole scene with Phoenix and the bouncer play out with wide eyes and cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Part of him couldn't understand how Trick had been so comfortable, with confrontation like this playing out in front of him - or even stoking it, as he had at dinner with Harm's family. Another part of him was glad that the bouncer was chastised for his rude behaviours. He'd blinked when he'd seen Phoenix's hair turn into snakes. He didn't know for sure what they meant, though the legend of Medusa came to mind. Could he actually be... ?

Bewildered, he gave Phoenix a shy smile and held his phone out, too, not wanting to head to some VIP area and sit around drinking when the beat of the music pounding around them had changed so deliciously. It reverberated in his chest, the noise filtering through the inner doors had Harm desiring sweeping Trick into the throng and pressing their hot bodies slickly against one another while they sloughed the last few hours from their skins. His free hand found Trick's again, squeezing hopefully (when what he really wanted was to grab and tug him to wherever the dance floor was immediately).

[Seragil]

Phoenix accepted their phones and after putting them in his locker and giving Trick the key he led the pair to the main club, the music pumping through them as soon as he opened the door, the supernaturals therein all out and proud and on full display.

"This is why no phones," Phoenix half shout whispered to Trick as a fae flitted past them heading towards the dance floor, their luminescent wings leaving a cloud of shimmering sparkles in their wake. "Welcome to Club Zero," he said amusedly as he followed the fae with his eyes.

**

Pudin'-pie? Precious? Who the fuck did this guy think he was? Rage burned coldly through Phaedre. The only outward sign of her anger, however, was a slow, cruel smile curving her lips upwards like a blade. So focused was she on the little upstart werewolf's face, that she missed the passing of the bottle.

"Oh my sweet, sweet child," she said softly as snakes formed slowly out of her hair, the long curls spilling and thickening into glowing eyed writhing, hissing basilisks. "What a watery bowl of gumbo you are." She tugged at his lower lip with the tip of her thumb, her nail cutting through the tender flesh enough to cause a beading of blood to form as she gripped his face and lower jaw with her hand, holding him in place but not squeezing him, yet.. "Is there anything else you would like to say?" she asked, her eyes serpent cold and slitted.

[Pocky]

Trick nodded and shrugged like it didn't matter about his phone, as if he hadn't argued with the bouncer at the door over it. When he looked over his shoulder at Harm he grinned and squeezed his hand, gesturing with his head at the pulsing,  dancing bodies on the floor. He cast a wary gaze over the stage where the band had vacated, but there was no sign declaring the band was coming back.

Phoenix caught his attention again and Trick grinned at him, looking like he wanted to say something but he licked his lips and replied with only one word instead.

"Thanks!" Trick replied loudly.

[Seragil]

Phoenix's stomach dropped with envy at the smile Trick gave Harm, not that he was jealous exactly, he hardly knew Trick, rather his feelings stemmed from their closeness, their togetherness. His life had been about serving and duty for so long he couldn't even remember the last time he had had that kind of connection to someone.

"C'mon" he said to the pair with a half-smile. "Let's get you two you're VIP badges and then set you up in the VIP area. Then you can both cut loose and get your party on"

He doubted Phaedre would give him a hard time about admitting Trick and Harm in as VIP's, well she normally wouldn't but Jesse had certainly gotten her into a mood tonight. Thinking of which, he looked towards the bar and seeing Phaedre going all Medusa on Jesse ass he quickly changed his mind about getting those badges right now and turned to Trick and Harm with a bright smile, a slightly panicked look in his eyes.

"On second thought lets get our dance on!" he said as he led the way onto the dance floor.

[Ehcorn]

Dana narrowed her eyes at Apep, but that was as far as she got into her typical line of questioning. Her brain was drenched with whiskey, and the best she could do was hang onto the word 'associates' as she floated past every other question she might've been able to ask to gain better understanding of the situation.

"Oh, okay. You know them but don't know them," she said, nodding exaggeratedly to express her understanding. Then she glanced down at her stolen whiskey bottle and the filled-to-the brim glass next to it. She smiled smugly at the man. "I think I'm good for now." For the first time that night, she didn't immediately lift her drink to her lips after speaking. She twisted and dragged it back and forth, leaving behind a vague, circle-shaped smear of amber liquid on the counter.

"What you could do," she continued, leaning close to the man that wasn't just a man judging by his eyes alone, to be heard over the sudden shift in music that vibrated through her insides and threatened to shake everything loose. "Is give me a cigarette if you've got one to spare."

[Black Philip]

Apep matched Dana's smug smile, raising his own drink delicately to his lips, before placing it down on the counter gingerly. The request for a smoke was seen by the Scarei as an opportunity to get Dana alone. People were far more susceptible to temptation when alone. What did Apep want with Dana? He didn't know. He saw the potential of someone who was drinking their sorrows away, and wondered, what can I make of this?

His dexterous fingers entered his jacket pocket, pulling out a pack of Red Apple cigarettes. He pulled out two, one for Dana, and the other for him. "I just about needed another one myself," he said as he handed it over. "And yeah, I know them but don't really know them, ya know?"

"Apep," he introduced, even though he wasn't asked. "And your name is?"

And what can I sell you, was the unspoken second half of his statement. His golden eyes twinkled as he spoke.

[Existentially Odd]

The sparkly-winged creature following straight on from Phoenix's mythical hair style had Harm looking everywhere the instant they were let into the club proper. He almost forgot to walk when he spied a waiter heading for the bar carrying an empty tray - thankfully, his connection to Trick's hand helped keep him moving - because of the outfit the waiter was wearing; combat boots, fishnets, a strappy leather codpiece, arm straps and football shoulder pads had Harm questioning his life choices. Maybe he should've been more willing to attend Quentin's football games growing up after all.

As Phoenix came to a stop to talk to them again, Harm realised that all the waitstaff were dressed in fetish gear. He barely paid attention to Phoenix's words as he gawked at latex and leather, straps and mesh, tight abs and bulging pecs for days. There were generous breasts accompanying female asses too but he had zero interest in those, beyond the aesthetics of their appearance. The guys drew his intrigued gaze against his will. He knew he shouldn't stare but he'd never been in a place so hedonistic. All the patrons were dressed in such a refined manner as to appear completely overdressed by comparison. He got it, though, the dichotomy. It was a sexy juxtaposition that he dug.

Harm followed Phoenix's gaze to the bar, noting some sort of fracas behind it and a guy with reptilian eyes not too far from them. He only held Harm's interest for a second, the woman sitting nearby was much more intriguing because she looked normal. Like him. Another human? It pleased him to think he wasn't the only one in the club, though he was suspicious because she appeared to be on her own and he'd been given the impression that he was only getting in because he was with Trick. The angle the woman was canted at told Harm she was very drunk and she appeared to still be drinking. His lips thinned in disapproval but then Phoenix was urging them to dance and he was distracted once more.

They followed Phoenix onto the dance floor, which appeared to be the most brightly-lit space in the shadowy club. Harm wondered what secretive things were happening in the places where the light didn't fully reach because he could see seating and all sort of nooks. He knew exactly what he'd get up to, if he got Trick into one of those and it made his body tingle. It seemed his imagination had been robustly fed by the views around them, not to mention their pretty host and his delectable boyfriend himself. The music felt like it was connecting his heart to his groin in the most delicious way as they made a sort of triangle and began dancing.

Harm was almost immediately dying of heat exhaustion so he peeled his jacket off, his body undulating to the thumping beat as he nimbly threaded his sleeves between his belt and the waistband of his pants, at his hips, yanking the cuffs down as far as they would go. His jacket hugged his ass, looking like a skirt extension behind him but he didn't care. The black tee he wore was thin and much cooler, though he strongly suspected it'd be plastered to his svelte body in no time. He rolled the sleeves up over his shoulders out of habit, his muscles toned and taut but nowhere near as large as Trick's.

He grinned at his boyfriend, feeling it reflected in his eyes, watching his beautiful figure embody the rhythm perfectly. Harm tended to dance from his hips first, involving his arms to emphasise the rising and falling melody lines while his lower half punctuated the beat. He made eye contact with Phoenix and smiled at him, admiring his form, but his gaze was always drawn back to Trick, his body angling and winding in his direction so that Harm could touch him, steal occasional kisses and dance up against him. Harm closed his eyes and simply allowed the music to pour through him at other times, feeling it enliven every cell in his being after it had stripped away the tainted ones left inside him at dinner.

Although he hadn't been sure it would happen, Harm was having fun, carried away on deafening trills and pounding beats that his heart automatically echoed. He ran his hand through his hair, the heat of the bodies pressing around them ruining his styling anyway. His skin glistened with sweat but he moved closer to Trick anyway, inserting himself between him and Phoenix so he could drape himself against his boyfriend, winding his arms up around his neck and grinding back on him.

[Pocky]

Trick lost himself in the music. He used his whole body to dance but there was restraint in his stepping. He didn't move too far from the circle the three of them made. A more recogniseable song can on, luring more bodies onto the dance floor who were less concerned about bumping into others. Trick moved to Harm and Phoenix, grinning at his boyfriend as he ground into him and paying him attention before dancing alongside Phoenix, mimicking his moves.

Eight shifts of beats later and Trick signalled to Harm and Phoenix that he was after a drink. "I need water," he said loudly towards Phoenix.

[pentagrandma]

If Jesse’d been a mite smarter, he might’ve suggested that he’d only be in the way if he were turned to stone in his current position behind the bar; more of an obstacle for Phaedre’s on-the-clock workers than an example. Sadly, if our lad’s brains were leather, there wouldn’t be enough to saddle a junebug. Instead, all he offered up in response was a dismissive, “Naw.”

[Seragil]

She stared into his eyes, waiting for him to say something, anything stupid, to push her that one inch more but he gave her nothing as he stood there staring back at her with his perpetual half smirk. He was the worst of the pack, he walked around like he owned the place, acted like it was his or his packs, she should just turn him to stone, make an example of him but she knew by the emptiness in his eyes that leaving as stone for a few days would achieve nothing, change nothing.
“You act like this is your club because I allow you to work and fight here, but this is my club Jesse, not the packs. My business partner is my Godmother and your alpha’s seconds in command, not your fucking alpha.” She said succulently, her Ancient Greek heritage coming out through her lilting and almost melodic accent as she spoke to the foolish were through her smile. “So, understand. Disrespect me or this place again and you will never see the light of day or feel the wind on your face again.” She searched his eyes, looking for any hint that he understood just how serious she was. “There are no more chances for you here Jesse.” She said with finality as she released his face from her grip with a small shove, pushing him away from her. “Now get the fuck out from behind my bar.”

She turned her attention away from the moronic werewolf and on the people at the bar, noticing for the first time the woman with the purloined bottle of bourbon sitting beside Apep and his rejected drink. “Problem?” she asked the snake demon with a slightly raised eyebrow as she held her hand out towards Dana, silently demanding the return of the bottle.


Phoenix danced with Trick and Harm, forgetting for a few moments his restless loneliness as he lost himself to the music, his body and hips undulating, his movements almost serpentine and hypnotic as he sensually moved in-time with them as the beat pumping through him, he danced with one or the other or both as they demanded and or wanted, glad that they were having fun. He smiled as harm stripped off his jacket and tied it around himself before rolling up his sleeves before totally loosing himself to the music and his dancing, he couldn’t keep his eyes off either of them as the moved around and with him.
He felt more relaxed that he could remember as the music changed, and more people poured onto the dance floor. “What ever either of you want” He said almost suggestively as he led them off the dance floor and towards the bar. “Do you want water as well Harm” He asked as he started to go behind the bar.

[Ehcorn]

No more than five seconds had passed since Dana had requested a cigarette from Apep, but when one appeared in front of her face she lit up as if he’d read her mind and summoned it by magic. Dana's look of amazement shifted to one of gratitude as she accepted it and brought it close to her nose, savoring the sweet earthy scent of tobacco — nothing like the cloying smoke smell that she’d picked up on Apep when he’d first sat down next to her.

"Thanks, Apep. I’m Dana," she said, still holding the cigarette like a mustache above her lip. One final, appreciative sniff and she lowered it to tap it filter down on a dry part of the counter, packing the tobacco.

If she could’ve lit up there, she would’ve, but even in her muddled state, she knew better. Supernatural or not, she didn’t doubt she’d get thrown out and wouldn’t be allowed back in if she started smoking in the club. What she didn't know, however, was that she’d caught the attention of the club owner for what might be an equally punishable act.

When she first saw Phaedre’s outstretched hand and expectant look, Dana blinked slowly, not immediately realizing what she wanted. Then she brightened and tucked her cigarette behind her ear, making it so she could slide her hand over the gorgon’s and squeeze it in a poor imitation of a handshake.

"You’re really pretty," she said, speaking in the gap between Phaedre's question for Apep and his answer. The woman was so striking and poised. She would’ve been better off sitting and admiring her, not trying to strike up a fucking conversation -- at least until she could shake her brain free of whiskey and could manage the subtlety and nuance she deserved.

It was too late now, though. All she could do was smile sloppily and hope for the best.

[Black Philip]

Apep lazily moved his gaze to the female gorgon. She was pretty, but so were most of her kind as far as Apep knew. He thought it odd she was sticking her nose in his request for a different kind of liquor. After all, if the dress code was nice shouldn't the drinks have been equally nice? He saw the bottle of cheap shit Dana and Jesse were so obsessed with, and looked back to the woman who'd decided to grill him.

"None, unless you've brought one with you," he said, tongue and cheek enough to be passed off as a joke. "I simply wasn't specific enough the first time I ordered. I paid for both drinks if that's the issue."

He almost added, I can make your shit bar that pretends to be chic less money, if you like, but instead just beamed a helpful smile. "I'm Apep, and this is my friend Dana," he said introducing the reporter. "We just met, and she thinks you're really pretty."