The Witching Hour [Prospero/Invite]

There was something in the air of Jump City, and had been over a length of time. Though not an immediate flux, those sensetive to such things (or those who were already monitoring it) would not be able to discern the precise time it started. But tonight, the air was especially enchanted. Indeed, it was one of those special times of the evening when a witch or warlock's power enjoyed a boost of potency. And the moon was also in a great position, hovering high in the black night sky. Man, if only there was less light polution- the stars would probably also add to the splendor. But all of these conditions meant that magic mischief would be had by the nocturnal residents of the city.

The influx of magic seemed to be pooling around and gathering more in a very fixed point on this night, a night club in the bad part of town. The club was technically still in operation, open for the night time revellers and dark dwellers alike. But some of it's patrons had other plans in mind to use the club for tonight, being allowed through the back entrance. Preparations had already been made, a ritual would be made here tonight while the conditions were at their peak. The only other possible odditiy around the night club would be the added security. While it was one of the "nicer" night clubs of the neighborhood, it wasn't unheard of for a club to employ more security than normal.

But this added security had a different feel to it. For one thing they were all dressed too sharply, they were probably wearing the employee's entire paycheck on their backs alone. And they had a strange... distance to them as they watched every small sign of movement with a terrifying single minded focus. They didn't interact with any of the other patrons or employees, and the latter had been instructed not to disturb them either. But despite this added security, it shouldn't be too hard for someone clever or magically inclined to slip in- right?

Prospero would walk up to the club, wearing a sharp charcoal shirt and dress pants combo, accented by a red tie. His amulet was under his shirts, but if you looked at the witch's chest, you'd see the outline of it under his shirt. This is wear the anomalies were originating. His grandfather sent him here to investigate. He would flash a smile at the girls in line while walking in, before leaving his Grandfather's store, he drank a charm potion and he felt GREAT. He'd flash his ID at the bouncer, stating he was born in '95 making him 21, he'd then slip the bouncer a 50 to let him in without waiting in line.

Once inside, he'd make his way to the the wall, looking around for anybody who looked suspicious. There had to be one door with far too much security around it. The magical energy in the club was surging, it felt amazing. He took a minute to breath it in. It felt as though his whole body was energized, it was euphoric. Focus, Elliot, the mission.

The Nightclub was apart from where it was, your typical rave; loud music, bright alternating lights, women probably wearing clothes that would have been inappropriate anywhere else, and had an air of it's own entirely without the magic infusion. The distractions were perfect for covering up any other noises. But the magic was definitely denser INSIDE, making it harder to find where it started or ended. As for the added security, there didn't seem to be a cluster so much as atleast one or two keeping an eye out on both floors.

There was however a doorway into the back to the kitchen and "staff only" areas. There were two guards posted on either side of that doorway as the group that came into the building from the back shuffled by the doorway down some stairs.

Prospero would look up at the door way with two menacing looking guards. Prospero would grin to himself, "There you are." He'd look around and began to chant under his breath, walking towards the door. By the time he reached the door, barring any magical protection, they shouldn't be able to see him, casting an illusion of invisibility on the two. All that was left was for him to walk through the door. He'd hold his breath as he got closer to the two and opened the door. If all went according to plan, they wouldn't noticing a thing, and hear only what seems to be wind. Please go according to plan.

Prospero wouldn't encounter any anti-magic or any counter-magic play of any kind making his way passed the guards. Even with them watching everyone who entered or left the back like hawks, they wouldn't be able to hear anything over the music blaring in the nightclub, leaving Prospero to follow after the group downstairs. At the bottom of a short flight of stairs would be an odd sight compared to what Prospero had seen thus far. A Ninja. Well, based solely on the rough outline of it's clothing it looked like a ninja. He was dressed in a very dark midnight blue, which mostly looked black in what little light was down there. And either his eyes were covered, or he simply didn't have any; there was simply blackness.

He also seemed to be unnusually... alert. He seemed to look up to the top of the stairs as if alerted by Prospero's very presence, tilting his head from one side to the other as if confused. Or maybe he was just popping his neck. And then he started to make his way up the stairs, pausing at the top before rounding a corner and moving further into the back.

That couldn't have gone any smoother, Prospero thought as he was able to slip past the two guards. They couldn't see him, and the music drowned any noise he was making. God, Elliot, you're getting better and better at this! Prospero would be taken aback by the.... was that a ninja? He'd hold his breath as the ninja seemed to look right at him in his cloaked form. Oh god he was made, he'd have to fight his way out. That's when the ninja seemed to turn heel and walk off. Prospero would trail the ninja, god this was so COOL, up the stairs. He'd have to remind himself to focus, he was here on a mission, but he might have to fight a NINJA! How sick would that be?!

The Ninja still seemed to be "aware" of something going on but couldn't discern why as it just found itself a corner and... sat there. It was only after a moment or two that a pair of amber colored eyes suddenly opened for the first time and started peering around. There was an unnatural vibe ebbing from the ninja now as Prospero was pushing it. The eyes then dimmed back into the darkness before the ninja stood up, making it's way back toward the basement. Was someone aware of his presence? Was it all a trap? Why did none of the infequent staff members that walked by seem to care about the ninja? Well, their job didn't entail questioning the pressence of a ninja. The door to the basement would be cracked open just enough, muffled voices emanating from inside. The air seemed to also be trying to tug at Prospero's mind more.

Prospero would take a deep breath and climb down the stairs, slowly stepping on each step. What was he getting himself into? He had to figure this out, what was going on? His mind was cloudy. As he came closer to the door, that tugging on Prospero's mind became unbearable, and he would become distracted, dropping the cloaking. "****. Uh, hey there!" Prospero would wave to the group, hoping they were friendly.

The group were all dressed in black hooded robes, standing in an inverted pentacle with mostly black candles at each point apart from one white burning candle in the poorly lit basement. Also around the room were papers with writing, pictures from newspapers or photographs, and some effigies of the teen titans. One in particular, Raven's seemed to be additionally restrained and appeared to be moving every so slightly. No sooner had he spoken, the ninja from before was now standing directly behind him, as if he had never moved. "What the hell? How'd this stupid kid get in here?" Bellowed a voice that would have definitely been recognized by the titans as Johnny Rancid.

"UGH! He's ruining everything!" A clearly spoiled brat sounding voice added. This one was Kitten, the "daughter" of Killer Moth.

At this point it was a safe bet for Prospero that these people were far from friendly, a point reinforced by a sudden and unexpected chill as... something was now leering at Prospero from the ceiling. Writhing wiggling darkness with a pair of amber colored eyes. "Don't. Move," a cold and icy voice commanded in his mind, probably from the ceiling creeper.

"OOoh now isn't this unexpected. Aren't you the talented one for elluding my guards~" purred a silky and entrancing voice from the opposite end of the room, standing before a makeshift alter. This one was new. And unlike the others who seeemed to hide themselves under robes, hers was more... bold to put it one way. She clearly didn't have any shame in showing off some skin, apart from the upper portion of her face and head which was covered by a "hannya mask" with elaborate headdress. Johnny looked like he was raring to go and tackle Prospero but stayed where he was impatiently.

"Let's just squash him and get back to this mumbo jumbo," A man with a freaking spider for a head suggested. How did someone miss that walking in?

"Let's not be so hasty. We could always use someone else gifted in the arcane arts~" the apparent leader argued, every word honeyed. She was watching Prospero intently, trying to gauge his reactions.

Oh no. Prospero looked around at the rogue's gallery, they had him surrounded. He'd look around, keeping a calm face, "Heh. Nice place you got here." He'd kind of relax, but the tips of his fingers would spark with flames. He was ready for a fight. "Having a seance? Mind calling my dad? I would really like a word with him."

"You looking to join em kid?" Rancid growled, slowly losing his patience and cracking his knuckles.

"While I would prefer to keep this civil, I can't guarantee the same of my comrades. But there is something everyone desires, and like them I can offer you a chance to indulge in that desire," the leader would continue, trying to keep this from escalating any further.

"You're just gonna trust him based off nothing?" Spider-Head growled. She seemed to be completely ignoring him.

"So what is it that you desire? Power? Fame? Wealth? Recognition?" She WAS ignoring Spider-Head. But this was now at the point where depending on his answer, she probably wasn't going to discourage the others from indulging in alittle violence.

The Ninja behind Prospero would shift, taking a step back and essentially stand inbetween Prospero and the doorway. While the creeper on the ceiling would also shift away, still looming overhead from their perch. Another Hannya mask was just barely visible in the dark now.

Her words wrapped around his mind, slowly coddling him. Recognition? He would love that. He was the grandson of Merlin, and has been treated like some kid. No, Prospero, focus. He'd survey the scene, Rancid was the immediate threat, he was strong, ice wouldn't keep him trapped. Concrete would begin encasing Rancid's legs, "Easy there big man, one wrong move and we get to see if you're still a threat with bilateral below knee amputations." He'd look at the woman, "What I desire is information, what is it you're doing here?" A small grin creeped across his face, "And how can it be used to put the Titans in their place."

Rancid didn't take kindly to that, though the shadow creeper had quickly moved and positioned themselves to glare coldly at him. "Can we just get this over with! I don't want to spend my entire evening in some piss poor club basement," Kitten whined impatiently.

"Oooh, another one with a grudge? Excellent," The leader purred happily.

"I don't trust him," the cold, monotone voice stated simply, going back to Fang's complaint.

"We are calling on the forces of darkness to place a curse on them. I cannot say precisely what will happen but I have yet to be disappointed after performing these," she said once again ignoring the complaints of her cohorts. If what she said was true, that implied that she has done this more than once and it did show results in some form. "So does that mean you will join us? Or do my friends here get to indulge in some violence?" She added, referring to their suspicions.

The ninja behind Prospero hadn't relaxed any, still poised to strike should the need arise as the shadow creeper continued to move about in the shadows of the room.

Prospero would grin, but use the Earth to push the Ninja back, "Let's not stand so close, yeah?" He'd begin walking to the leader, "What kind of curse do you have planned? Cause incase you haven't noticed, they have a witch." He'd quickly look over the alter, trying to determine who they were trying to channel. He'd look at the rogues gallery again, "And no offense, they've been dispatched by the titans with less issue than the Hive Five. I mean, c'mon guys, they got kicked out of their tower by them. What have you guys done?" He'd sigh, "You're gonna need the grandson of Merlin."

The Ninja simply moved back into it's original position, only mechanically acknowledging that it had been moved. The one hiding in the dark seemed to be coldly glaring at Prospero as if he had just taken something from them. Who said he could touch their things? As for what was on the altar, there were the various effigies made in the titans' image- with Raven's strangely animate. It also had 4 red eyes as it seemed to be struggling very slightly in it's bindings.

Before any of the motley crew could respond, The Leader held up a hand and hissed something in different tongue- which seemed to either frighten or placate them. "I asked you a question, it would be rude not to answer me," she said coyly. Whether or not his being Merlin's grandson mattering didn't register, she seemed to be more hung up on the fact that he hadn't answered her question- and she was losing her patience.

The one lurking in the darkness seemed to loom directly over the altar, clearly catching Prospero looking over at it and... clearly not trusting his intentions as the ninja back toward the door also seemed to be giving off hostile intent.