Bees in a Spider's Web [Bark/Dart]

The Onan Lounge, an odly named but perhaps aptly named nightclub within The Slums of Jump City. Originally run by someone alleged to have connections to the mafia, it had always been one of the "nicer" nightclubs. The previous owner however sold it for "mysterious" reasons and the new owner saw fit to heavily rennovate it from the ground up. The most notable change was it's style; going from one of your almost "same old" rave nightclub to that of a Cyberpunk inspired genre. Most of the interiors were dark colored, illuminated in the cool or vibrant pulses of lights that seemed to line each room's edges. The main dance floor was different enough, which had plenty of lights that would disorientate or blind you if you weren't careful- or if your eyes had previously adjusted to the darkness.

The layout was two floors, with the street level descending down to the main dance floor where most of the clientele danced before a stage where a DJ blared music. That took up most of the main floor alongside a bar and sitting area with a door to what he presumed to be the kitchen and employees only areas. There were also some bathrooms off to the side just across from the dance floor, along with two doors along the wall that each had another Bouncer of sorts. One door was by the stairs and the other was further down closest to the kitchen where workers (and "entertainers") would go through. There were also some stairs between the two that went up to the second floor, which mostly looked like more sitting or viewing areas along with a number of what he assumed to be "VIP" rooms.

The club was also crawling with security guards. Previously before DOMA arrived it had been staffed by alleged members of Three Oni based on their similar wardrobe. After DOMA arrived, either a dress code was put into motion or there had been a change of staff. The security goons still looked like they were from a gang, and that they'd throw you out without hesitation regardless making the former more likely. Weaver waited from somewhere within. Since she had begun retaliating against DOMA, Weaver had been sending out some feelers looking for new prospective resources she could put into her shadow war. If they hadn't made an enemy of her, Weaver stood to only profit from DOMA's pressence with recruiting some of the local talent to do her dirty work.

Then for some reason they started cracking down on her gang specifically, and regardless of what her older sister said she wasn't going to just let this continue without getting her due. So she was here waiting on two new prospects which for starters, had some of their own contacts get in touch with her people. It wasn't often someone had people whose sole function was to get in touch with someone else- typically guns or violence were involved. In any case, before she decided to invest her time or patience into this, she wanted to see if they could atleast pass a simple test. Finding her. Well, simple on paper- not so much in action. Her paranoia extended well beyond just assuming people were out to get her, and even her nightclub below the surface was a fortress.

So her potential "investments" had a location- her nightclub, and what could be assumed to be a door number- except with letters. Some kind of secret code maybe? In any case she would wait, trying to listen through the faint vibrations of the club.

Trying to get into a nightclub underage really lost its lustre when you couldn't drink. Now it just became a chore. Both he and Bark had received a green light for the meeting they'd sought. They were interested in expanding their operations quickly. And that meant getting a loan. The least complicated way to achieve this was to approach a private individual with sufficient capital. After batting around a few suggestions, they'd settled on approaching the Three Oni.

The gang had a good reputation in the underworld. People considered them a stable unit. This despite their known altercations with DOMA. It was success tinged with growing crisis. A motivation for them to splash out on additional resources should the hammer ever come down. Pix figured their leader would be willing to entertain the aspirations of two relatively unknown metahumans. These empire types liked their home grown investments.

It was just a pity, however, that the meeting was entirely on Oni terms. Hugh would have preferred a neutral location. Somewhere with lots of witnesses. But beggers couldn't be choosers, "I hope the Three Ghosts have visited her already." He muttered as a wry aside.

The pair were stood a little ways off having completed their H.I.V.E. taught reconnaissance. They now knew the exits and general external layout. Hugh had also paid a drunk guy to describe the inside in an increasingly futile venture. The sprite was wearing a cold weather coat over his pixels to try and not stand out like a sore thumb. Plus the light dusting of snow everywhere.

"So what do you think they'll value? Ballsiness or covertness?" Their intermediaries may have given the invitation, but seldom few details had accompanied, "Do we walk through the front door? Or do we sneak in a side? I don't like giving the ravers a story. But I'll admit that-" He paused to pick his words, "I may be ill-suited to making a dynamic impression. Too sensible, y'see." (˘▾˘)

Ah yes, Bark would have preferred for the meeting to take place on some neutral-ground as well... but then, that would assume they had any power to flaunt in this situation. When it came to this deal, the one holding all the cards... or rather, any cards at all, would be his and Pixel's potential benefactor. In this regard, Bark had to respect this woman, her usage of her power being so obvious, yet cold and calculated, showing with this one simple maneuver she could do anything she wanted to them, make them go wherever she wanted and do whatever she wanted because SHE knew she could. There was not a gap in her armor nor a chink in her facade. She was the powerhouse here from which Bark and Pixel would be reliant... for now, in any case.

Bark and Pixel would come and go only at the beckons of she who held dominion of this place, the two aspiring HIVE agents standing a little ways off from the club they had been invited too. It was... engaging to say the least, the front door guarded by bouncers hard at work at their jobs, masked strong-men letting in those they deemed acceptable by what was, no doubt, very particular standards and those that didn't meet them...? Well, their asses never felt more kicked in their lives.

Bark, with his HIVE-mask adorned, his hood pulled up over his head and, generally, his body covered from head-to-toe, would glance over at his partner as he would ask just HOW they would go about getting into this place. After all, even though they had an invitation, they were walking into a literal spider's den. This place was crawling with henchmen of the more dangerous variety, the layout would be unfamiliar and with limited details as to actually finding their target... they were going to need something they didn't have.

"We don't want to be rude." Bark would sigh heavily after quickly weighing the options. "It'd be uncouth to try any other way than the front door when we're probably, already expected. Lets be gentlemen about this, huh? Our finances are at stake." Bark's expressionless mask would stare into Pixel for a moment, anticipating a response... and, if there were no objections, they would make their way for the main entrance.

...And if... IF it required "balls", as Pixel so eloquently put it, to get inside this way... Well, he hoped that the spider before them appreciated that kind of thing.

The people in line would, as both Bark and Pix probably noted earlier were wearing 'Cyberpunk' inspired clothing, mostly. It wasn't accurate to assume that all of them were, for one reason or another. Pix would undoubtedly turn some heads but the whole "emoji" look kind of worked in his favor- and it was also Jumpcity, so it wouldn't be that strange. Bark was wearing what basically amounted to a helmet- which may have worked if not for the fact that it completely covering his face wouldn't sit well. The front also had two bouncers, only one of which wore a kind of 'Cyberpunk' mask which only covered the lower half of her face and distorted his voice when speaking. It was a nice little touch.

The other one was sat more on a folding chair and... actually LIVING the Cyberpunk thing with her arms and legs being high-quality prosthetics. The former looked like a hardass and was definitely the type to not allow admission for little reason. The latter looked... strangely like the opposite. Outside the fact she looked like she would and could make you a smear on the pavement, she was the one looking people over and saying to go in to the chagrin of the former. "Boss iss lookin' fer bigga profi' ain' she? Wha? You gunna caviteh search em too?" One of the bouncers would quip with a thick Irish accent.

Pix was definitely more inclined to take a circuitous route. Besides his habitual need to overcomplicate. There had to be some level of disconnect between the Oni skirmishing with DOMA and the Onan Lounge they were fronting. DOMA were either ignorant of the connection or didn't think the outcome of raiding it was worth showing their hand. If two metahumans were identified walking into the joint, it might change their mind. Assuming in the latter scenario they had it under any kind of surveillance.

And for all the unfavourable comparisons people were making between them and the Titans - DOMA had better manpower for stake outs.

But, as Bark put it - it'd be uncouth. Pix had been in a gang before (albeit a fringe member) and vaguely knew some adherence to decorum went down well. Not to mention the outrageous dress code afforded them some level of inconspicuousness (doubtless the intent on the Oni's part). If they could just pass the door without any friction - then he could assume no harm done.

He responded with a light nod, "We can be a little rude." (>_>)

The line they now faced looked stagnant. Only shuffling along when the call came down from the doormasters. He could only estimate the wait time. 10 minutes? 15? Higher? Los Vegas clubs were notorious for their 45 minute waits. And those were the people on the guest list. Sucked to be them.

Pix walked to the front. He paused briefly to ask the group at the head of the queue if they had the time. With that given he flashed them an emoticon (^_^), "Getting late, huh?" And turned to address the first bouncer that caught his eye, "Hi. We made a... table reservation. Yeah. V.I.P. Names of Pix; Bark." Good enough excuse for them to dispense with the formalities and let them get down to business.

It was somewhat... refreshing to see that both his own and Pixel's ways of doing things weren't clashing this time around, Bark's partner coming to understand WHY they were doing things the way they were and what the benefits of such a strategy might be. They needn't tear up the fortifications of their potential benefactor before they got paid, yes? Such would only make getting the money and resources they needed virtually impossible as she had all the bargaining power here! Still, Pixel seemed to INSIST on flaunting himself just a little bit... and Bark could only smile and nod towards the  line, feeling almost like a big-brother to this guy. It felt... almost nice... almost... Reminded him too much of the close bond he felt towards his fellow ne'er-do-wells... It would hurt if he let it... It was a luxury he couldn't afford at the moment.

Following behind pix and smiling through his mask towards those in line they simply bypassed, the two coming to the doormen that warded off eager party-goers-to-be as they attempted to get inside! Like the pair of ruffians society defined them as, Bark and Pix would simply... scooch to the front, forcing themselves to the the center of attention for the two women, two women who appeared, really, to be half of one each. Metal parts stuck out of them here and there, limbs replaced, organs in the case of eyes, things that took on the appearance of a cyborg. Cyber-punk style too, smooth and stylish in a functional-way, something to be admired aesthetically from a distance, assuming the owners wouldn't see the one doing the observing. Bark knew a thing or two about mechanics, considering he made his explosives custom, and he knew attractive engineering when he saw it.

It was from here that Pix would take charge, no doubt attempting to pass a "Charisma-Check" by stating that they had a reservation for the club, that they were expected. One of the benefits of having a mask was that it hid Bark's face... especially his eyes as he glanced over at his partner for a moment. Following his lead, Bark would step up beside Pix, flashing a smile neither woman could see before lifting up a hand and waving at the pair of guards.

"I'm Bark. He's Pix." Bark would remark, pointing at himself, then at his partner-in-crime. "Appreciate it if you'd hurry...  Hate to miss out on... the party."

The one with the cyberpunk mask immediately snapped her head to them, her irritation flaring up that they would even try to cut in line at all. Who did they think they were that they thought they were better than the rest of the people in line? No doubt there were other reservations that were waiting in line now. Really it was the other people in line getting pissed off that would irritate her. But she seemed to recognize the names, based on her eyes peering at them so expectently. "And I'd appreciate it if you waited in line like everyone else," she said simply.

"Howya doin' boyos? Cool helmet- you dossers throwin' shapes right now?" The other more physically intimidating bouncer asked good naturedly. What the deuce was she even saying?

"Roxanne-" The first one scolded.

"Don't eat the head off me, mot. They on'tha list or nah?" 'Roxanne' interrupted.

The first one blinked and grumbled something quietly in Japanese. "Yes but-"

"Grand. Alright, crack on in then," Roxanne said jerking her prosthetic thumb back toward the door. The first one was visibly becoming annoyed now. "Wha? Tha' one is a gas man right there. They'll be in line fer donkey's years and we s'posed to get people inside to make us some money. So don' be acting the maggot on me now. Let em pay and crack on," Roxanne wasn't having it. Pix was the most entertaining thing to walk up to what had been completely boring and a waste of time. And even if they DID do something, that meant she got a chance to throw them out on their ass. There were next to no downsides here in her mind.

"Whatever," the first one said with forced calm, waiting for Pix and Bark to pay their entrance fee. Yes, there was a small entrance fee. What? You thought you could just go inside, enjoy the music and atmosphere for free?

When the first bouncer turned them down Pix had to wonder if the gatekeepers had any standing with the Onis at all. It wasn't unheard of for gangs to staff their legitimate operations with half civilians. But given the cyber prosthetics on one, he prevented his mind from an outright dismissal of the people. Maybe they genuinely didn't give a fuck who he was. Forcing your boss's callers to stand in line would be one hell of a power trip and not one Pix had any intention of humouring. (-__-)

He was already summoning his best retorts, which would have no doubt worsened the situation, when the second bouncer stepped in. A querulous tone which threatened to explode was lost and Pix responded to the baffling series of colloquialisms with a neutral, "She's speaking sense. I assume."

The demand to pay an entrance fee didn't affront Hugh as the call to wait in line had. Instead Pix lowered his voice and leaned closer to Bark, "Spot me one. Wallet's in my other metahuman powers." Besides the coat, he wasn't carrying a lot of pockets with him here. And besides, it wasn't like Bark could say no. Not unless he wanted to hold the discussions himself.

At small opportunity, Pix would also detach a few flakes of pixel off the inside of the coat and allow them to settle on the door staff. It probably wouldn't come up. But it could be helpful to know the shifting locations of these two should the need arise.

"Thanks for the understanding." Pix would tell Roxanne when they were ready to move off again, "I always did like you Ozzies."