As for all my cross overs, they are just for fun and do not in anyway actually affect the story lines from the stories themselves. This little crossover was suggested by cyn521 so go thank them for the following insanity.
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Alice was looking at an all together too plain looking building to house what she knew was supposed to be inside. About a month ago she'd gotten a commission for DJ Mask to create a musical playlist for a club she'd never even heard of before. So Ace had hopped onto Google and learned that she was supposed to create an appropriately enticing play list for a BDSM club, which was honestly not something she'd ever thought would be a thing to end up on her resume in all honesty.
"Are you sure we're in the right place Corazon?" Malcolm asked, looking from her to the building and back in doubt. Her husband knew what kind of club this was supposed to be, and like herself it didn't match the mental image she'd built. Not enough obvious whips and chains on the door probably.
"This is the address and we've got the invites to attend Open House, so... yep. This is the place. Maybe they like to keep it toned down on the outside to keep the conservatives from fire bombing this place?" Alice suggested with a shrug.
"Then I guess we knock on the door." he smirked at her and reached past to bang on the plain door. It didn't make enough noise and they frowned at each other as it was apparently sound proofed. The owner of the club, a Mr. Gryphon Isles had told them to come early so they could be introduced around, and yet it was definitely not a man who answered the door.
A beautiful blonde woman smiled at them, wearing what looked like a pomegranate red teddy under a petticoat of heavy fabric and that was it. Alice's eyebrow shot up and she looked at Malcolm's carefulyl averted gaze. "Hi! I'm Lilith, Master Gryphon said to expect you two. Please come in, we've been listening to the playlist all week to get used to the music cues and everyone LOVES it!"
"Hi Lilith, I'm Ace, this is Mal. So ah... is what we've got on appropriate? I wasn't too sure..." Alice asked as she indicated their slightly more conservative clothes. Alice had donned her favourite silk dress, it was a reddish brown halter dress that when tied right left a fair amount of cleavage exposed and had a tight skirt that wasn't too clingy even after Alice had gained some baby weight.
"You look lovely Ace. The colour on you is fantastic. Though I warn you, you might want to double knot that top, some of the regulars like to try and untie things. It's friendly but can be irritating." Lilith warned as she hooked and arm with both of them. Malcolm just gave Alice an amused look, both of them towering over the shorter woman. Malcolm had worn his low slung jeans, and Alice had taken one of his older black tshirts and cut it so that the chest and back were both skulls made from strips and his darkly tanned skin peeking through.
"Holy shit... this is so not what I was expecting." Alice cursed as she caught sight of the interior, the varied and rich colours entirely different than the black and leather she had been expecting.
"So many people have that reaction. I can tell you that the first time I walked in the door I'd had no clue of the real nature this club had, and yet even I knew it wasn't like anything else." A beautiful woman approached them and Alice felt her head tilt to the side. What was it with this place and pretty women, it was making her feel a little overwhelmed. The last time she'd been surrounded by that much flesh and prettiness, she'd been working as a stripper, but Suede's was a far cry from this place.
"Ace, Mal, this is Beauty. She's Master Gryphon's wife, for lack of a better term. She's the one that talked him into contacting you." Lilith continued to act as guide.
"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.