3972/Bite the Hand that Feeds You

Bite the Hand that Feeds You
Date of Scene:	28 October 2020
Location:	Tricorner Island
Synopsis:	Elektra bumps into a Vampire with a Vengeance.
Cast of Characters:	Selene Corvinus, Elektra Natchios

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Selene Corvinus has posed:
There's a Halloween party starting in a warehouse that is filled up with people in all manner of macabre costumes. It's that time of year again after all, with loud thumping music, and people screaming blood murder... but all in good fun.

Gotham is a Halloween wonderland, of sorts, but just because people are playing up the darker sides of life for the pleasure of entertainment, doesn't mean that Gotham is any less dangerous than it is all year around.

The warehouse is lit up in sections, while other parts remain dark and shadowy. There's a dancing floor filled with dancers, and a stage putting on a live music show. The further sections near the back are for drinking, mingling, and more.

Amongst it all, Selene is here, wandering through the throngs of people in costume, her own black leather attire and long black trench coat has gotten her a number of 'Ah, I love the Matrix!' comments, to which she just grins lightly at, or outright ignores while wandering about.

She's here, for a simple purpose, observing, and learning. She's not entirely sure that the 'foes' she's after are even here, but she heard there might be some leads here tonight, so here she is.

She walks slowly toward the orange-lit bar, the bartenders are all dressed in Skeleton costumes. She orders a vodka and cranberry drink, from one of the more happy Skeletons, bouncing around behind the bar in the noisy and busy environment.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The best part of Halloween for Elektra is that she can go out dressed as she would for an assassination without the need to cover it up. Because she will blend right in. Tonight she comes dressed in a fitting garb of black and red, a long sash about her hips and a pair of Sais in the back. Truly, they must be only props right? At least the mask is down, tucked about her neck and revealing her refined features, the olive skin of her Greek heritage. Hair is up and held in a ponytail, out of her eyes. She couldn't afford any distractions tonight.

She has a similar purpose to Selene to being here, even if perhaps for different reasons. Having heard of Hand incursions in Gotham once again she is keen to investigate. She *is* still part of the Hand afterall, even if as of late she has been at odds with some of their cells. Specially the ones in New York. But here she had mostly free reign, still a full-fledged member. She knew there was something important to go down at this important. As for what? She was here to find out..

The woman moves in confidently, her eyes taking in the people, the various suits. It would make it harder for sure with all the colorful outfits. But she would manage. The same idea comes to Elektra as it did to Selene. The bar is a good place to start so she weaves her through, closing in and tapping on the counter. "A martini if you please." accent noticeable.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
Selene lowers her glass down to the glowing orange bar top after taking a sip of the sweetened alcoholic beverage within it. She glances over to Elektra's direction when she hears the woman order a martini. She gets a 'look' from Selene, not one of any malice or discontent, but one really just rooted in... that's an interesting style and face.

A bit of commotion at the far end of the bar draws Selene's eyes away from Elektra though, as a couple of groups interact with each other and get a bit rowdy. One of the Skeleton bartenders is forced to throw a pitcher of ice and water on them to get them to disperse. The groups back up and some of them march off toward the dance floor.

"Nice place." Selene says in her smoky voice, specifically to the bartenders, though Elektra will be able to easily hear her as well. The Skeleton masked bartender replies with a muffled voice. "Never a dull moment, babe!"

She smirks at him. "You're expecting a lot of fights here then? Any of them ever good? Or just... drunken nonsensical brawling?" She speaks with a European accent, British and... other regions mixed in with it.

"Depends." The bartender replies. "We had one group in here last night that really knew how to throw down. Kicks. Flips. the whole ninja nine yards, ya know?"

Elektra Natchios has posed:
A lot can be told about the quality of a bar in the way they do their martinis. So Elektra swirls the glass for a brief moment and then takes a gentle sip, tasting it on her lips. A brief nod of appreciation is given. "While you may have had to wear such a ridiculous wear for this party at least you do know how to do a drink." she says in compliment to the skeleton bartender who fashioned her drink. She is still somewhat amused though, specially at just walking around dressed in this manner and noone batting an eye. If only they knew!

The smoky voice does call her attention, along with the woman's garb and expression. She watches her for a few good moments. Her poise, how she moves and doesn't even hide that she is listening in.

"Ninjas? And here I was thinking they did not exist." Though here she is *almost* dressed as one. "Let me guess, was their honor soiled by their vile enemies or ..., were they simply drunk?" she questions the bartender.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
"It's themed nights for us throughout the rest of the month." The Skeleton replies to Elektra while mixing another drink up. "Last night was Cowboys and Indians. Kinda pissed some people off, for obvious reasons, but we just told them to fuck ooooff!" The man behind the mask just laughs like a cackling Hyena and slides the drink down the bar to whomever ordered it.

Michael Meyers, ordered it, actually. He catches the drink and raises it up to his expression masked face to drink it.

Selene, meanwhile, is looking at the 'tender who replies to her. She is nodding her head softly when Elektra asks for more details. The 'tender shakes his head. "They were the real deal. No costumes or nothing. They were wearing street clothes, you can tell they came here just to pick fights, ya know? That kinda asshole. Finding a busy place, just to go there to cause trouble?'

Selene looks from the bartender to Elektra then. "Sounds like a real problem. Did you throw water on them too?" She asks with a small smirk, before sipping her drink again.

The Bartender laughs. "Nah, girl, we had our big bads come in and take care of them. Big nasty fellas, they're over there, near the stage." He nods over to the stage, where 3 huge men with muscled arms and barbarian costumes on are standing...

"Intimidating." Selene dryly says.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
If anything Elektra knows how to mingle, be it in a party or at the embassy. Part of her training, why she had been chosen to live out with an Ambassador. She rests one elbow relaxedly on the counter, looking wholly interested in what the bartender is talking about. She even lets out a polite chuckle at the cackling one before shaking her head to herself. "Seems you have had a few drinks already as well."

Another brief sip from her drink, quirking her brow while she listens in as more info is given, faint smile shared with Selene when she asks if they used water too.

"Big bads?" What happened was starting to become clear on her mind, a move by the Hand here most likely, thinking they would have the ..., upper hand..., but somehow they had been taken out. An impressive feat. And it only made her the more curious about it all.

"And impressive." She says after the 'intimidating' comment. "Three veritable Conans out here?" she laughs and then asks of the bartender. "So .., asking for a friend but if a girl would want to approach them what could you tell me about them?" her eyes do stay on Selene when she asks that though. They seem to be following the same lead afterall.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
Selene's dark brown eyes are across the dance floor to where the 'bouncers' are acting like overlording barbarians, looking over the crowd and mingling amongst themselves. but Elektra's question draws Selene's attention back to her, especially since the woman is looking at her when she asks it.

The bartender answers it though. He starts with a quick laugh and a shake of his masked face. "They're assholes, but they're loyal to the folks in charge of this place." He says, mixing a drink for a group of punked-out ladies at the end of the bar behind Selene. "They're fond of pretty ladies though, so the two of you probably wouldn't struggle with getting their attention." He chuckles again while doing his job. He slides two glasses over to the punk girls, before starting on more of them.

Selene glances toward him, before back to Elektra. She can tell that Elektra isn't a vampire, thats easy, she can tell she's not a Lycan either... after six hundred years of doing this... she's gotten good at the 'tells' for those things.

A smile is offered to Elektra. "You're looking for trouble if you go looking for the attention of any one of those three, let alone all three of them." She warns the other woman, to be friendly, of course. Really though, part of her wonders if Elektra is aware of what they are.

Selene had noted, after all, that Elektra's outfit didn't really look like a costume...

Elektra Natchios has posed:
There is a calculating look from Elektra as her attention drifts between Selene and the three men. Bouncers, but appearing more than simply bouncers... Because if they did took care of the Hand with only being three they would have to be quite proficient. Though she has taken on proficient and came on top in the past. This would just be another challenge. A faint little smirk comes to her lips, perhaps already imagining it yet ..., this woman appears to know more .., and be more. A readiness to her, and at least a wisdom in those eyes she hasn't found in many before.

"You talk almost as if the place was being ran by a gang..." she says casually back to the bartender. Another small drink of her martini before she sets it away. No need to addle her senses if a fight may come soon.

"You appear to know more about them than you let know." she questions. "And yet you do not appear to be on their side either." she considers Selene again and then offers. "Maybe we could speak elsewhere."

Selene Corvinus has posed:
The music is thumping, the dance floor filled with bodies bumping, and the barbarian bouncers watching it all just stand there with their meaty arms crossed over their beefy chests, like they're the kings of this land.

Selene's eyes go back to the bartender, then to Elektra. She shows the woman a soft smile before looking down to her drink while the 'tender replies to the question from the Greek woman.

"This is Gotham, lady. Everything is either run by a gang, or a corrupt politician." He says, following that statement with a cackle. "This particular place? Its not exactly a gang, but it is owned by the daughter of a pretty prominent gang affiliated guy. So, there's connections, and a lot of gang-like shit that comes and goes, ya know?"

Selene lowers her drink after another sip, listening and regarding Elektra again after the bartender speaks, not really saying anything that surprises her, personally. "I've fought two of those three men before." She tells Elektra, of the barbarian bouncers. "I'm definitely not on their side." She smirks lightly.

She glances to the bartender, asking for a refill of her drink and he obliges. Selene then looks back to Elektra and nods once to her about speaking elsewhere. "Wherever you'd like." She says. This night is primarily about new contacts, after all.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra's focus is now fully on Selene, the bartender's explanation being registered and noted with a soft mmm of recognition. Something to look into. But it did seem as if the woman in front of her had the answers she wanted.

The news that she fought them before has the assassin arch an eyebrow. "Indeed? And they still live?" the tone edging on the amused. "I do not know if it is a testament to their ability or ..." she might be teasing, or perhaps testing the other woman. Elektra has never been someone to mince words though.

"But good that you are not on their side." She dislodges herself from the counter. She gestures for the woman to walk with her and she begins to make her way past the throng of people about, towards a side exit of the party. Much like Selene she was the type to learn more about this before bashing her head against it. (Or her Sais!)

She opens a side door and steps out, the thump of the music now muffled when the doors close.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
Selene doesn't really comment on the fighting. She knows she's not the most intimidating figure in the world after all, being frozen at the physical age of 19 years old, at a body weight that is barely heavier than a piece of office furniture. But, she just lets her vague words stand as she nods once to Elektra.

With her new drink in hand, she walks toward the side door with the other, passing between some of the bodies moving about, some seemingly purposefully bumping in to her - which is the nature of these places - and steps outside through the door, letting it sweep shut behind her.

Selene takes a step in to the alleyway and sets her drink down on a brick outcropping. Her eyes go to Elektra's. "You're one of the ... ninja that the bartender spoke to, I take it?' She makes a guess, based on Elektra's demeanor, her dress, etc.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
At being bundled with the rest of the Hand ninja makes Elektra chuckle lowly but she inclines her head slowly. "It's complicated. But in a way, yes. I am." for now that would have to serve as an answer. But in truth, it was indeed complicated what her status with them exactly is.

She folds her arms, taking a few steps forward to a wall and leaning her back to it, one foot tucked back up against the brick wall. "We appear to have some enemies in common here apparently." she says, brushing some hair out of her face.

"Though I have yet to figure out what your angle here is exactly, or who you work for." A beat and then she introduces herself. Manners do matter. "Elektra."

Selene Corvinus has posed:
Selene stands a handful of feet away from Elektra, watching the woman lean casually back against the wall. She elects, however, to simply stand with her hands at her side, her eyes do momentarily look to the street at the end of the alley to watch a large FedEx truck rumble past the opening.

At what her part in all of this is, Selene looks back to the woman and shows her a soft grin. "It's complicated." She uses Elektra's own initial response to her. A moment is given before she shakes her head and glances away. She steps over to her drink again to pick it up.

"Two of those three men inside aren't what they seem." She explains as she raises the plastic cup up to her pale lips to tip it back and sip the crimson red vodka and juice. She lowers the cup then and looks downward. "They're werewolves." She states bluntly before looking over to her left where Elektra is on the other side of the door that is set in the wall between them.

"A rare strain of werewolf, anyway, but related all the same." Another small pause before she tacks on. "I'm here to kill them." Her European flavored voice is smooth, calm, and arguably pleasing to most ears.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra snorts when Selene replies in the same measure she did but she inclines her head, still looking somewhat amused but accepting of it. Secrets were not to be shared at a first meeting afterall. Or at least no more than was strictly required.

Eyes follow the young-looking vampire with attention when she moves to fetch her drink. There's just the faintest hints of tension on her shoulders. As if prepared to jump to action if this turned sour. Yet so far so good. "Werewolves." the woman echoes. She *has* heard of the supernatural, but that this is what she was dealing with? It surprises her. "Of all the things I imagined this was not it." but she accepts it well enough even if her brows do furrow together, again calculating.

"I can understand death though." says the assassin who has left a trail of bodies in her wake during those years she has been working. "And three on one does sound horribly unbalanced." as if she was suggesting a partnership.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
A couple of loud street racers roar their engines as they scream past the alley, LED undercarriage lights adding flare to their styles, the area holding true to its ongoing party atmosphere. Gotham is a lively place of wild activity after all.

"I won't attack them tonight, if they stay to themselves. I'm mostly just... warning them that I'm watching." She shows a faint smile for just a moment. "Doing such a thing often makes them act on poor judgment, which can have a snowball effect in to giving me advantages. Such as isolating them, rather than fighting them... as you note, together."

There's a small pause from the woman as she pushes off of the wall again. "Werewolves are uncommon, to say the least, most doing their best to avoid sprawling urban jungles such as this. But this group... are getting bold. They're trying to cut deals with others, which is why I believe your... complicated associates were here to meet with them."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Warning them..?" Elektra quirks a brow up at the other woman. But she begins to get a glimpse of an idea of what she might be. "So they know you? Are you a werewolf as well?" She inquires. "You don't appear to have the ..., muscle that those others one had." she says. Her gaze goes to the street racers briefly, the loud sound momentarily breaking her concentration. But it's quick, she turns her attention back.

"Regardless, you do seem to have a reputation with them if they would act rashly against you. And experience too." Because noone defies powerful creatures like that and lives for long without having the skill.

"Whatever they were trying to do, either run them out or cut a deal, it clearly didn't work." She says. "Are you sure it is only those two though?"

Selene Corvinus has posed:
"I'm..." Selene starts to answer the question before she tosses whats left of her drink in to one of the open trash bins. "I'm out for revenge." She tells Elektra then, her eyes going back to the woman as her hands slip into the side pockets of her leather trench coat.

"These werewolves are the descendants of those who burned my family alive inside of our home. I've seen the death of most of the ones responsible, though not all." She glances back to the building's side door. Her eyes dance back to Elektra's own then.

"I have to see them all exterminated, to keep them from doing to others, what they did to my mother, father, my siblings. Their hearts are filled with malice, hatred, and all they spread is death and misery. I plan to end that. One at a time if I must. This is why I'm here, to make sure they don't garner any deals with... others... that would make this goal harder for me to see through to its end." Everything she saying here, quite true, but also lacking a lot of the finer details of the full story.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Killing for vengeance. Yes, Elektra can get on the side of her that. She even finds herself smiling even if it's a dark thing. But at least it does appear to be understanding, she again inclining her head. She listens, casting a look at the door when the other woman does. "So you are going up the chain to find them." she presumes.

Something does click there, specially when Selene mentions 'descendants'. It would mean she'd be older than she looks most likely. So she finds herself inspecting Selene again, "How long have you been hunting them?" She questions, shifting her weight a touch.

Yet as they seem to be sharing Elektra does some of her own too. "I have had my dealings with those that came here last night. The Hand they call themselves. In some circles I still do but .., it's complicated as I said." a pause. "Yet there is a group in New York I have some loose ties with." loose, "The Defenders."

Selene Corvinus has posed:
At the question of how long she's been at this, Selene just shows a quick and faint smile before she replies. "Six centuries." She says. But before Elektra can reply to that, the door to the building opens and a few partying youths come pouring out of the club inside. The music is loud again for a few moments before the door shuts again.

The drunken, excited, young people venture down the alleyway laughing and sharing smokes.

Selene glances after them before back to Elektra. "There's likely a mutual benefit in this... Hand... working with those I'm after. A swapping of power, so to speak. My enemies are dwindling in numbers, they fled Europe to come to the states to find new connections, fresh... opportunities, so to speak. They're offering the power of becoming a werewolf, to those who will help them push back against my people. If they garner these new connections, new allies, it could be troublesome for my people."

She glances back to the side door, then up above it, before letting her gaze drop back down to Elektra. "Your Defenders... might deal with more trouble as well, if this comes to pass."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra stays silent, watching the youths come out and past them. She shares the silence for a time and listens for now, not yet making the questions she is itching to do. A brow arches when Selene mentions they may be going for a trade of power. Scary enough as is. "That is something I clearly cannot allow to happen." firmness to her tone. That would go against her plans, even ruin them too if this new source of power came to be in the middle of the Hand.

She inclines her head. "Seems like you found yourself a partner then." she concludes. It was good enough reason to join up.

Not that the truth bomb of being 600 years old was forgotten. "An immortal?" she asks. She knows one or two. A notable member of the Hand being one of those. She frowns faintly.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
The youthful ones move to the edge of the alley, their laughter and shouting still filtering back to where Selene and Elektra are, Selene giving them another glance before looking back to the other woman. She steps away from the wall and faces Elektra again.

"Yes, but it came with a cost." She says of being an immortal. "As such things tend to do. If you truly are out to stop this ... Hand group for garnering power that will make them much harder for you to deal with, then you have to trust me when I tell you things that may seem unsettling, or even hard to swallow." She pauses. "So to speak."

Another glance to the end of the alley before she looks down and back up to Elektra's eyes. "I'm a Vampire. But not the kind you may, or may not, be familiar with. like the werewolves I've spoken of, I'm of a rare line of vampires from eastern Europe. I don't... turn in to a bat, or shy away from the sight of a cross." She shows a hint of a grin. "So don't let the movies cloud your judgement of me. My becoming a Vampire was the only thing that gave me this chance to gain my revenge, for what they did to my family."

"If you're comfortable working with this knowledge, then I'm delighted to work with you in return." She states it all calmly, though with the weight of knowing that saying these kinds of things can often be construed as ... hard to hear.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Nothing comes for free." Elektra intones in a solemn manner. That lesson she has learned a few times in the past. There is always a price. Her eyes narrow a touch more when Selene speaks about being a vampire. Even the hardened Elektra can get a smidge uncomfortable with a revelation like that. But she has worked with 'monsters' before, and if this woman is a monster she has yet to show it. "It is a lot to take in." she admits. "But I also do not think you are lying." the corner of her mouth curling into a faint grin. "Not many would dare to do so."

Gaze does turn a bit more serious shortly after. "It's a long time to keep a vengeance going. You are committed. I can respect that." her tone sounding honest.

Selene Corvinus has posed:
The comment about vengeance and her dedication to it draw another faint and brief amused reaction to the vampire's visage. She looks away again before shaking her head and returning her eyes to Elektra's. "It's a necessary thing, in my situation. I could tell you much more, but its probably best to spare you the details." In truth, she only shares them with people who she knows are reliable, or invested in some way, Elektra would probably listen, but does she really want to know it all? Who's to say!

"To put it simply, we're seeking to end it, and slip away from society. We've managed to use our resources to make it possible to do so, we just have to end this threat to others, before we separate ourselves."

A light nod is given as Selene's right hand comes from her jacket's pocket, she offers Elektra a glossy black business card with simple text in white upon its surface. It has contact information on it. Her name. 'Selene' inscribed above it. "My name is Selene, as the card says. If you come across anything amongst your own goals, that seems to... have a hitn of what I've said tonight, I'd be more than willing to listen, and help."