In his daze, Damian walked down the busy streets of the city after the previous action that just caused chaos and uproar. Neon lights coming from the bars and clubs surrounding flickered with a rhythmic pulse and illuminated vibrant hues in shades of electric blue and crimson onto the night. Tonight, he felt different, needing an opportunity to unwind with some fun and perhaps to meet someone interesting. How tedious plotting and manipulation could be at times; maybe a change of pace would help him find new insights and connections.
As he approached this one particularly lively club, the bass of the music thudded in his chest. He hadn't really planned on doing anything tonight apart from enjoying himself and seeing where the night took him.
The club was a sight of hedonism, with its pulsating lights and people lost in the rhythm. Damian slipped inside, his sharp gaze gliding around the room. He moved with ease in the throng, his presence almost unnoticed. Damian's ears perked up as he heard someone call out, "Marcus". His eyes settled on a man leaning against the bar, his air revealing an undercurrent of assuredness and arrogance.
Damian walked right up to the bar and sat one stool down from Marcus, ordering a drink as he did so. He then turned and addressed Marcus. "Hey, seems like you're enjoying tonight. You mind some company?"
Marcus raised his head, eyes appraising. "Depends. You got something interesting to say, or are you just here for drinks?"
Damian chuckled, his tone casual. "I'm here for both. But more importantly, I'm in the mood for interesting company."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting company, huh? Well, you've come to the right place. I'm Marcus. And you are?"
"Damian," he said smoothly. "So, Marcus, what brings you out tonight? Business or pleasure?"
"Actually, both," Marcus replied with a smirk. "But mostly pleasure. This place has its perks. And you, Damian, what's your story?"
Damian leaned in a bit further, lowering his voice. "Just looking for some entertainment and maybe make a few connections."
The conversation was not labored; Damian comfortably took the subject of their conversation from one topic to the next. He revealed only enough to be seen as friendly and yet didn't say too much. Marcus, in turn, spoke of his life and interests but was discreet about some of the details.
As the night wore on, Damian began to pick out curiosities in Marcus's behavior and the more subtle hints at what really went on in the club. The patrons were not normal revelers; there was an air of exclusivity and power in them that was unmistakable.
"So, Marcus," Damian chimed nonchalantly, "I have heard rumors regarding this place. Some say that it is more than just a high-class club."
Marcus's eyes narrowed a bit, and he was substantially guarded. "Rumors, huh? People like to talk about themselves. What do you want to know?"
Damian leaned back in his chair, feigning casualness. "Just curiosity, really. I've heard some people say this place is connected to something bigger. Maybe something.mutant-related?"
Marcus's expression changed for a moment-there was flickering surprise that covered with a smirk. "You've been talking to the wrong people if that's what you've heard."
Sharp instincts, Damian had. Marcus' reaction told him there was more to this club than met the eye. "Well, if that's so, then maybe I have been misinformed. But you seem like someone who knows the ropes around here. Maybe you can enlighten me?"
Marcus chuckled; arrogance resurfaced in his manner. "I'm just a regular guy enjoying his night. But if you're really interested in what goes on behind the scenes, you might have to do that another way entirely."
Damian's mind raced. Marcus was cool, calm, and seemingly unattached to the Hellfire Club, but it was a ruse. He was in. "You know, Marcus, I'm always ready to learn more about interesting organizations. Perhaps we can talk about this in private?
Marcus raised an eyebrow; intrigued, yet still skeptical. "Private discussion? That sounds just a little shady. But hey, if you think you've something worth telling, I'm game."
They moved to the back of the club, toward a quiet lounge with dimmed lights, plush sofas, and generally a much more relaxed atmosphere. Damian sank into a plush sofa and waved Marcus over to join him. "So, let's get down to brass tacks. What's the Hellfire Club really about?"
Marcus's face went cold. "You're starting to sound like you know more than you're letting on. Why the sudden interest in the Hellfire Club?"
Damian leaned back, serene. "Just making conversation. I find the secretive nature of such organizations fascinating. Especially one with such.unique members."
Marcus's eyes narrowed and suspicion crept into his eyes. "You're treading dangerous ground. The Hellfire Club isn't a joke. And I'm not going to spill secrets to just anyone."
Damian smiled, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and cold calculation. "I see. You're a cautious one. But sometimes, a little trust can go a long way."
The tension in Marcus was palpable. "And why should I trust you? What do you really want?"
Damian shrugged, casual. "I'm here to have a good time and make some connections. If you're not into sharing, that's cool. But don't be surprised when you find yourself out of the loop."
Marcus's eyes flashed with anger. "Are you threatening me? I'm not someone you want to mess with."
Damian smiled, his smile broadening. "Threaten? No. Just making a note. The Hellfire Club has its way of handling things, right?"
Marcus's patience finally snapped. "All right, cut the games. Who are you, really? What's your angle?"
Marcus' exasperation finally showed. "If all you're here to do is play games with me, then I'm out. You either tell me who you are and what you want, or this conversation is over, right here, right now."
Damian's face did not change in countenance. "I'm just curious about it. And from what I have gathered, you are involved with something special."
Marcus's eyes were ablaze with anger. "Special? You mean the Hellfire Club? What do you know about it?"
Damian's voice went colder. "Only what I have heard from those who whisper about power and secrets. And it would appear that you are deep in that world."
Marcus's anger boiled over. "You're playing with fire, Damian. You think you can come in here and dig up secrets? You've got no idea who you're dealing with."
Damian leaned in closer to him, his voice low and intense. "And you've got no idea who you're dealing with either. But I can promise you, you won't like it if you cross me."
Marcus's fists clenched, and his eyes flashed defiance. "Fine. If you want to provoke me, let's see what you've got."
Marcus's anger then burst forth in the form of a series of violent attacks. He moved in with a powerful seismic punch against Damian, sending shockwaves through the room.
Rumble!
Damian sidestepped the strike with grace, fluidity, and precision, managing to barely avoid being hit. Damian wore an amused grin. "Is that all you've got, Marcus?"
Then Marcus was roaring in a fit of frustration, sending seismic waves after seismic waves in hope of overwhelming Damian.
Damian dodged the waves with his agility, effortlessly dancing from each. He mocked Marcus with every dodge, his voice laced with heavy sarcasm: "You're going to have to do better than that. I thought you were tougher."
Marcus got angrier, his attacks wild and desperate, burrowing openings in the ground with his seismic powers and attempting to envelop Damian in them.
Damian leaped over the openings with ease-almost with grace. He was behind Marcus in an instant and landed a couple of swift strikes, striking at pressure points to further weaken him.
Marcus, visibly exhausted now, tried a last-ditch effort with a huge seismic shockwave.
Damian dodged him with ease, an edge of his lips curling in a mixture between amusement and mild irritation. "Really, Marcus, you are starting to bore me. I'd have thought by now you would prove more of a challenge."
Marcus was panting hard, trying to summon just enough energy for one last attack. His body was tired, though, his movements slow. Damian took immediate advantage of it, advancing on him with a combination of calculated blows.
Then, in one quick and swift motion, Damian cast an illusion of sorts as if the ground had given way beneath Marcus.
Marcus was beginning to stumble, eyes wide in panic, as finally his strength faltered. Damian's final blow sent him silly, on the verge of collapse.
Damian loomed over the sudden quivering heap that was Marcus, his face cold and unyielding. "You've had your fun, Marcus. Now it's time to end this."
Damian cast the Binding Seal purposefully, an abhorrent curse to demand Marcus' compliance.
The curse hit Marcus as his eyes scanned wide in shock. A wave of excruciating, searing pain beset him and would not let up, reminding him of his new predicament. He struggled to fight back but could not handle the pain.
"What in the world have you done to me?!" Marcus yelled, thoroughly pained and incredulous.
Damian's face did not change expression. "Just a little something to make sure you don't give more problems. A shame you won't be able to use your powers the way you should."
Marcus fought the curse. Anger and frustration lined his voice as he yelled, "I will never give into you! You'll pay for this!"
Damian didn't change his expression even a trifle. "Heh, a stubborn person you are."
Damian had no care in the world with his methods. The curse he had used drove into Marcus, breaking down any resolve. "Tell me what I want to know, Marcus. Or this will only get worse, maybe your relatives will--"
The pain was growing worse, and Marcus's resistance began to falter. His mind was a race of thoughts of family and possible retaliation against Damian. "Alright, all right! I'll tell you whatever you want. Just stop!"
Damian's face relaxed a bit, his eyes still cold as ice. "Good. Now, down to the Hellfire Club. What are its true goals and its affiliations?"
Marcus found himself spilling all he knew of the Hellfire Club-its strength and membership-under the threats. Compelled, he had to tell what he swore he would never tell, buckling under the weight of the curse.
As the night wore on, an uneasy truce was formed between Damian and Marcus. Damian rose to his feet, his gaze locked on Marcus. "I'll be in touch tomorrow. We'll see if you've learned your lesson."
Marcus, still cursed but trying valiantly, shot a glare of defiance at him. "This isn't over, Damian. I'll find a way out of this."
Damian just smirked, oozing confidence. "We'll see about that. For now, enjoy your new predicament."
With that, Damian vanished into the night, leaving Marcus with his thoughts and the pain of the curse still burning.