Husky walked in to the place with small determined steps. It was still somewhat difficult for him to see businesses so different from his own pop up in the streets he called home before his death and the subsequent resurrection. Once the shock had worn off he realized this place might just be the best possible place for him at the moment. His mind was still clouded with his last interaction with LuckyLucy. They had both bared their souls to each other, shown a vulnerability neither knew existed. And she had stood there and watched him leave.

He had done the right thing, but then why did his heart ache like it did now. Yes, this place with it's unfamilar ambience and strange drinks was perfect. Perfect for him to lose himself in the pits of chaos , perfect for him to find a ladder to leave them, perfect for him to remember every painful detail of his previous life, perfect for him to forget them.

Walking upto the bar he sat down and hailed the bartender. A muscular man with heavy make up , red eyes and a ripped shirt showed up. Briefly taken aback by his appearance , Husky took a moment to compose himself before responding. "I hear you specialize in the oddities . Bring me whatever you would propose for a man on a perilous journey, alone and forgotten , his crusade in disarray and his mind riddled with questions. Bring me a bottle of that friend and point me towards a quiet corner." Husky replied with a wistful smile as he rolled his tobacco into a cigarette. Taking a long drag from the now lit cigarette, he closed his eyes as he felt the now familiar burn in his throat . Exhaling through his flared nostrils he took a brief look at the other patrons around.

Osiris was back in Detroit for business yet again. He decided he would get a drink before the long drive in the morning. The bar was fairly packed, but not too much to feel claustrophobic. The bartender passed down two shots of cognac to Osiris as he lit his cigar.

"Thank you!" he said as he nodded to the bartender. The game was on, but he could barely hear the radio with the socializing going on. It was no problem though, worst case, he could check the newspaper for scores.

Waiting for Memnoch to finish speaking, she had a gentle smile on her lips as she raised her eyebrows. "It's rude to keep a lady waiting." She joked, giving him a small shove before taking another sip of her drink as he began to speak to her again, giving her his full focus as he intended on doing.

"Maybe it is because I am more, ever think about that?" She said to him in a hushed whisper, winking at him before settling back into her seat properly. As he suggested a different type of alcohol, she nodded before clapping her hands together. "Yes! You know I love a good beer, just don't blame me if I have a hangover and still have to entertain!" she told him, chuckling softly as she glanced over to the bartender he had waved over.

Nodding her head in agreeance as he spoke to her, she chuckled softly as he complimented her. "Excuse me boy, focus." She said to him, grinning softly as she listened further. "I already knew that about you and yes, the criminal life is the most exciting part. It's not exactly like what I'm doing now isn't frowned upon." she chuckled. As he began to mention protection, she raised her eyebrows once more. "Care to elaborate?" she asked, taking another sip of her drink.

He noticed the venue starting to fill up as he nodded his head to a few of the known mobsters from around the different cities who had ventured into his club. Word had apparently been spreading about the entertainment he offered and the opportunity for people to indulge in something a little different.

Continuing with his guest of honour, he began to speak.

"Ah, protection. Where do I even begin? There are a number of people who have an interest in the activities we do. Not only the activities though, but the connections we have and a potential way to get access to the ones who lead. Whilst I run this operation in Detroit, I am not the head of the other side of the world I live in. To survive, we have managed to secure the services of a number of corrupt agents within the FBI. There ensure we are always kept in the loop about the information held on us, going as far as fixing documentation to keep us out of jail as well. In return, they earn a hefty payment, 'off the books' of course, to ensure that they are financially better off. The state salary they get simply doesn't justify their workload these days, so they aren't hard to tempt in assisting our cause."

He lifted his cool beer which the bartender had brought over, knowing that Santanico was extremely trust worthy and that the info he was sharing would remain a secret.

"Secondly, we have the services of bodyguards. The men you see working security here, they are top of the line. Not only do they receive payment for working the doors and the protection of this establishment, but some of them also serve as my personal protection. They would happily jump in the line of fire to ensure my safety. This is something we would also need to arrange for you the further down this rabbit hole you wanted to come. So, the main question is, now that you know more info, are you prepared to trust me and come on this adventure with me?"

He smiled at her as he lifted his beer again, his eyes locked onto her so that she could see he was 100% serious in his words.

Glancing to the people who surrounded the VIP area from the gaps in between curtains, she watched as several people had tried to get his attention though he made it known he was pretty busy at the time, with respect of course. Taking a sip of her beer as he began to speak, she smiled softly.

"I can imagine they get shortage of pay when it comes to that line of work and I can imagine you've rewarded them greatly. Not to mention they get to see some of the best dancers in town." She told him, winking softly as she moved into standing, her beer firmly gripped in her hand. Walking forward to the curtain, she used her fingertips to open it a little more so she could see the audience as some watched the dancers on stage and she chuckled as he spoke.

"Hmm. It's a risky one as you know I'm completely angelic." she giggled softly as she walked forward to where he sat. "I'd be honoured. Do you trust I'll keep this secret? Do you trust I'll work in our best interest only?" She asked, reaching out her hand for him to shake as she lifted her eyebrows, awaiting an answer from him.

As she moved towards the curtain, he could see her pondering the information he had just shared. However, he hoped that she understood the trust he had in her to even mention something of this importance in the first place. This life, the mob, the underground, whatever term society used for it, it was extremely discreet and something where information was never openly available to the public. 'Cloak and daggers', such a fitting term for an operation like this.

Standing up to join her on his feet, he extended his hand and shook hers in return.

"I have seen the work you do. I have seen the draw you have to people. I have always known that given the right circumstances, you could do so much more."

"Angelic?" He grinned. "I have seen the way your hips flow my dear. Whilst you may use the term angelic, I believe that you are made of the exact grit which I have searched a long time for.  I trust that you will keep this information a secret but that is not the most important thing on my mind right now. I see the bigger picture. I see where you can go and what you can achieve. That is a picture which you don't have the eyes to see right now. Therefore, I would like to be your guide. Everything needs to happen in stages though, a step at a time."

Noticing one of the security guards trying to get his attention, he turned and raised his hand to advise them to wait.

"Look out through the window you see before you. Look out at the world within these four walls. We have people here everyday spending their money. They seek entertainment and sometimes a new purpose. Of course, some just seek to unwind, however it's only when you clear your mind and fully pay attention that you notice how many are tired with their mundance office jobs and they standard routine which never changes. Imagine this was all yours though. Imagine that you had the power to do what you pleased, whenever you wanted. Imagine you had followers, protectors, connections. This can be done."

He walked over to the window himself, placing his elbow upon the re-inforced glass as he leaned his head onto it.

"A partnership. How does that sound? Perhaps you could run an operation similar to this, with my funding to assist you of course. How does that sound for a start? From there, I will introduce you to my connections and bring you in on my own personal vouch."

He turned his head towards her direction as he smiled, his hand calling her to come and stand next to him this time, to admire the view of the club which was at near maximum capacity tonight.

Shaking his hand, she smiled as she placed her hands on each of his shoulders as he spoke, her fingers holding the beer bottle just behind his shoulder as she listened to him.

"Oh darling, you've not seen anything yet." She told him with a chuckle, grinning at him before lifting her hand to take another sip of her beer. "Well one thing is for sure, your connections and yourself are the only people who can help me right now. In whatever I achieve. You already got me this far after spotting me in a stupid little strip club that didn't deserve my time, I'm honoured with whatever you can do to help and whatever you're willing to. No doubt this will be the start of something great." she told him, lifting her hands from him as she smiled softly. 

As he told her to look, she glanced behind her to where he prompted and chuckled softly as he spoke. "Oh I don't doubt it, some of the best people and the most rich people come here just to see me. I know full well how mundane their lives can be. That's why I am the total opposite and that's why you employed me." She grinned.

Thinking for a while, she continued to sip her drink. As he reached out his hand, she smiled softly as she took it and stood beside him, her eyes admiring the view. "I'll drink to that, partner." She lifted her bottle out to him as she glanced back over to him.

As he stood there and glanced out over his fine establisment, Santanico next to him sharing the view, he knew this was only the beginning.

"Ya know, it wasn't always like this. It was a hard grind at the start. This place was a shambled and needed so much time and care put into the refurbishments. From the ground up, we hired workers to re-fit the place to a very detailed specification of my own design. The lighting, the sofas, the layout, the menus, the staff, the entertainment, it needed to be perfect."

He folded his arms as he stood firm and proud, a small smile of personal appreciation appearing on his face.

"When I found you in that joint, I knew it didn't deserve you. I could immediately tell from the very atmosphere that the place produced. I knew I needed to have you here, to have you as my main attraction. Part of the journey in this life is knowing who you have around you and ensuring that the ones who are special, know it. Give them the time and attention and most importantly, give them a purpose. That is what I would like to happen for you next."

The music had been going on for a few hours now but the night was quickly approaching its peak hours. The place was already full but he knew many would be outside the doors waiting to get in as others left for the night. Placing his hand upon her shoulder, he nodded his head and winked, "How about we lose the formalities now and drink? We have this private area for as long as we need. Heck, maybe you could even give me a sneak preview of any new routines you had!" He laughed and fell back into the large velvet sofa, placing his outstretched arm on the rear of the couch whilst lifting his leg and resting it on his knee.

Leaning more into the window, she smiled softly as she admired the view, propping her beer on the little ledge to the window as she watched the dancers do their thing.

"Oh I can see how much work has gone into it. Bare in mind it still caught my eye before I even came to work here. It's like home. I'm the only one with a single one person show, that's quite the achievement and without this place I'd be nothing. It's very special." grinning at his proud appearance. "You do certainly look after me and your other employees well. But enough of that employee business. Partner, you said?" she said sarcastically, chuckling softly before nodding.

Giving him a fake shocked face, she giggled. "I bet you'd like that!" she said, sitting next to him and giving him a large shove. "shots?" She winked at him, gesturing the bartender over again with her hand.

He laughed as she teased him with her words, acknowledging the arrival of the bartender. "Well, how about we have a challenge then? Think you are game, Partner? Smiling at her, he handed her the menu.

"Pick any of the shots or cocktails and we will keep going until one of us can no longer hack it. You win or I win, one winner only! Your shift is done for the night and I will ensure you get home safely afterwards, one of my drivers will personally take you, so no need to worry about anything else."

Pondering for a moment, he started to think. "We need a reward for the winner though right? Any idea's?"

The bartender stood patiently as he waited for their orders, Memnoch pointing in the direction of Santanico with a smile. "Don't look at me, the lady gets to choose her poison!"

"Oh darlin I can get myself home, I don't even live far, you already know this!" she chuckled softly, glancing down at the menu that was handed to her. Contemplating which ones to get, she hmmed to herself. "I know, to make it even better. We get to decide the shot of choice for the other person." She grinned softly as she winked at him before glancing down to the menu again.

"No no, I'll be choosing HIS poison. There's a difference." She told the bartender as he laughed back at them both. "For you I choose..." she said in a light song as she pointed to the one she wanted to pick for him. "Tequila." She grinned evilly as she gave the bartender his menu back. Folding her arms proudly, she shrugged. 

The night was still young and so were they, Santanico made it her mission to show him she could be an equal friend to her partner, and in her mind what better would do that than alcohol.

As she mentioned the word 'Tequila', a shudder ran through his body. She knew he hated the stuff and still she ordered it! She was clearly playing hardball but he was down for it since the night was still young. As he snatched the menu from her hand with a quick wink, he handed it straight back to the bartender, not even needing to look at it himself.

"She will be having Absinthe" He said, an evil look on his face as he tried not to laugh too hard.

"You are the Queen of the snake charmer dance. After a few of these shots, you will probably start seeing snake heads on all the customers out there on the dance floor! Nothing better than a little green shot of that hallucinogen!" He placed his arms behind his head as he leaned back and lifted one foot onto the small table in front of them.

"I still didn't hear anything about this challenge! If you win, perhaps I give you complete ownership of this place for a day? We can have any theme or event in here of your choosing. How does that sound? Too tame?" He leaned forward with a grin, keen to try and see how game she was.

Giggling once he snatched the menu, she raised her eyebrows softly. "Something wrong?" She grinned, biting on her lip as she anxiously awaited what he chose for her. She glanced to the bartender then back to him. 

Her eyes widened once he had said her drink, her face completely unamused as she looked at him sternly. "You're a dickhead." she pouted softly, shoving him a few times. She knew for a fact a couple of those shots and she'd be gone, his tequila was way too tame compared to her shot which gave him much more of an advantage. Alas, it was her suggestion.

"UGH! FINE." She groaned as she handed back the menu. "Even though that is way out of line, I want this club to myself. I'll give it a fair shot. AND. Not only that. If I win, you have to do the special dance. Call it... an owner's performance." she giggled to him, seeing if he'd take the bait.

He couldn't resist laughing when her initial brave front turned to shock as he named her shot. With a loud laugh, he turned to the bartender saying, "Just bring two shots of Absinthe for her, after that I will suggest a new shot for the challenge. Too many of those is a pretty darn big hazard!"

"A dickhead!" He laughed again. "Is that any way to speak to your boss!" He tapped her on the arm, clearly enjoying the spin the night had begun to take after the more serious discussions which had taken place not too long before.

Listening to her additional request upon her victory, he tried to not let his jaw hit the floor. "Hmmmm, an owner's dance. We both know that I cannot move quite like you, however, in a private setting, I would happily agree to that!"

As he began to think, it quickly became obvious what he should ask for upon the victory falling in his favor.

"Since you brought up dancing, then I return that challenge back to you, Partner! If I am victorious, I am given the priviledge of a special owner's dance too, consider it a chance to show me exactly how talented you are! Still reckon you got this in the bag? Or you wanting to back out?" He leaned in again, smiling and awaiting her response.

"Even one is a damn hazard, you know that right? How many people have died from this shit?" she asked, a laughing tone in her voice though she rolled her eyes. "If I die you've lost your best dancer, good luck!" she joked, watching as the bartender walked away to fulfil their orders. Glancing back to him, she grinned.

"Nope. A public dance. For everyone. Dedicated to the other person. Final offer." she said to him, folding her arms again with a huffed facial expression. "Not scared of an audience are you?" she raised her eyebrows, glancing around to the audience before looking back at him. "Or... scared of your ahem. Lack of performance?" she said with a wink, chuckling softly.

Having drunk himself out of the daze he was in, Husky stood up. Leaving a tip for the bartender he walked towards the door. With a last look around for the proprietor of the establishment. Unable to discern who it might be Husky sighed. He knew this joint was not run like he used to run The Rebel's Retreat a few blocks down the road, but this place had caused enough of a ruckus for him to arrive here for a chance to engage the owner in some witty banter. . Still , he could not help but feel a twinge of disappointment at the lack of a greeting, regardless of how crowded the place was.. Shaking his head he wondered if he had become irrelevant. The thought caused him to chuckle , relevance had never been important to him, but it was fun while it lasted. Tossing his cigarette aside, Husky walked out and hailed a cab.

As Santanico became more and more brave, he smiled seeing how happy she was in her element. "Hahaha, lack of performance? I think you know me better than that my little spanish devil! I will always give as good as I get and I never back down from anything OR anyone. So I agree to your terms. I am not entirely sure of what the audience will think, however, it's all for a laugh so let's do this. I am pretty certain my dance won't come into the equation though since I won't be losing this challenge!"

Lifting his Tequila shot, he whinced and then consumed it in one quick swoop, trying to get it down him as fast as possible. "Fucking juice of the devil this stuff, I swear! Anyway, for your dance, I most certainly don't want it public, that shall be for me only. Those are the terms of the challenge. Mine is public and yours is, ahem, private" He winked.

Looking around the venue, he saw a familiar face in the crowd, the son of a man who owned a bar in Detroit not too far away down the road. That man had died in a recent mafia war which had taken place, a turf battle. Before he could have a chance to greet him, he saw the drunk unshaven son get up and stumble about the place, heading for the door and leaving as a few of the regulars gave looks in his direction. Shaking his head, he continued with his devil juice, trying to figure out a way to not let the alcohol catch him too easily.