"It's a pleasure to meet you...Beauty." Malcolm offered his hand and Alice nearly laughed as he adjusted to the unorthodox name. The woman called Beauty flushed and gave a goofy looking smile as she shook his hand.
"It's a club thing, many people don't want their civilian name being used or getting tied into this club. So everyone has a persona of sorts. My Beast is just upstairs finishing up a phone conference so why don't I show you the sound system and let you meet the bartender.." Beauty turned and sauntered to towards a bar and Lilith waved goodbye as she went off in a different direction.
"I feel like we've entered Wonderland." Malcolm whispered to Ace as they followed along.
"I'm aply named for that then. Does that make you the White Rabbit or the Mad Hatter though?" Ace shot back and her husband chuckled, tucking his arm over her shoulder. The movement was a little stiff, the new scar tissue on his chest showing clearly through the artful tears on his shirt.
"We were planning on using your set list tonight because DJ Mask has become quite popular lately and it'll help the new guests to feel more comfortable if they hear familiar music. At midnight we have a special Entertainment, so that everyone can get a taste of what club life is actually like. There are some rules in place here at the club, but I suspect that you two won't be a hassle. You both look happily monogamous and if I can pick up on that, I'm sure the regulars will pick up on it too." Beauty smiled as she said it, her eyes sparkling with humour.
"You're too modesty my Beauty." A rich voice purred from upstairs and Alice looked up only to gape a little. A handsome man with great hair and Asian features was coming down the stairs, movements catlike and predatory. He was shorter than Malcolm and Alice, even if she took off her shoes, but he had an aura of intimidation to him that made Alice wonder if this was a good idea. Next to her Malcolm went still in a way that Alice knew meant he sensed the potential for violence in the man too and Reaper swam to the surface of her husband's eyes. It was a calm, dead and emotionless look and when the man Alice assumed to be Gryphon caught sight of it, it was matched with an equally assessing look.
"Oh for the love of fuck." Alice sighed, and Malcolm broke the staring contest to give her an amused look.
"You and that mouth." he teased and she shrugged.
"I'm guessing that you're Gryphon? I'm Alice." Alice offered her hand and the man shook it.
"Rule in the club is no names. I'm to be addressed as Master Gryphon or Beast. It's a way to help protect people." Gryphon replied with a soft smile, the sense of violence entirely gone from him now.
"We'll stick with calling you Beast. No offense but I don't want my wife calling any man Master, not even me." Malcolm spoke up and Alice heard Reaper still there in the tone of his words.
"Is there any names you'd prefer to use other than your own? Many people get tagged with names by others, but we can accomodate ones you are used to using already." Beauty smoothly stepped in, holding her Beast's hand in a way that was comforting and Alice appreciated the other woman's tact. The menfolk were still jumpy with each other so it was up to the girls to smooth the road.
"He's Reaper when things go the right way. I'll stick with Ace." Alice hooked her arm around Malcolm's back and held onto him too.
"Wonderful. Upstairs are the viewing rooms, feel free to watch as you desire and use an empty one if you like to be watched. The booths around the ground floor are free to use, unless the curtain is closed, that means they want some privacy. Now the man behind the counter is Lumiere, but everyone calls him Lu..." Beauty continued her explainations as Alice and Malcolm followed along.
It was going to be an interesting night indeed, and Alice was wondering if they'd get through the night without any incidents. It's only been six months since their son Nathaniel was born, and just over a year since she'd been attacked by Stuart whom Malcolm had killed, all so he could protect her. There was still a lot of that protective violence left in her husband, even if he hated it. She'd keep him on the dancefloor and herself in his arms, just to prevent any tragedies from happening.
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When the club opened to for the night, Alice and Malcolm were firmly ensconced in one of the booths, cuddled together on a love seat that was absurdly comfortable. The table in front of them had a bottle of champagne and glasses, and they were out of the immediate eye of anyone coming in. Malcolm had his arm across her shoulders and the scowl on his face kept anyone from even trying to approach. It wasn't a disapproving look, though some of the outfits were a little alien, but he wasn't willing to let anyone come near his wife. She had only just recently stopped having nightly nightmares and he didn't want some poor fool with wandering hands to set off one of her panic attacks. Ace would say she was fine and pretend to be normal right up until she collapsed into a shaking heap and he knew it. So he just glared the curious away.
But one man wasn't catching the hint of the dark look on his face, and the black man came right up to them, going so far as to sit on the low table since there was no chair for him to perch on. "I'm Cursed's Mercy, I play a particularily strange role in this club that I think you should be aware of. I don't dabble in the sexual or erotic side of the club, but am instead here to meet the emotional needs of the members."
"Hello Mercy, I'm Reaper. This is my wife Ace." Malcolm used his old alias all too easily and it bothered him that he felt like no time had passed since he was last really Reaper. It was dangerous to treat old habits that lightly, though the irregular nature of this whole night was keeping him off guard enough that it was also comforting to hold old habits close to the surface.
"Well, Reaper, Ace, why don't you try dancing and see if that doesn't... ease your transition for the night? I can show you those that are safe to dance around, and even with, that way no unfortunate encounters can occur, alright?" Mercy offered, rising to his feet and offering his hand to Malcolm of all people.
Alice was giving Mal an amused smile and with a gentle push from her, Mal took another man's hand as if he needed the help getting to his feet. "You'll do fine here Reaper. And your wife is as safe as you can ever hope her to be. I know the look of a couple tested by fire, and you're both far stronger than you think. If you doubt me, just watch my own Beauty and Beast. They faced violence, fire and doubt but they're wonderfully strong together now. If you ever come back, maybe you'll even be told the story." Mercy led them out into the crowd, a space clearing around all three as Malcolm was led by the grip on his hand and Alice was tucked under his arm.
It was an entirely weird experience, being led into a crowd of semi naked, naked, or strangely costumed people by a man he did not know, but Mercy didn't lead them astray. Instead the graceful man brought them to what looked like a man in a business suit seductively dancing with a woman in a school girl outfit. It was too close to Malcolm and Alice's own sordid starting that both of them started to laugh. This club may have many stories to tell, but Malcol and Alice definitely had one of their own to counter with.
Queen of the Cursed (QoS and Belle Bete crossover)
Start from the beginning
