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[@Plank Sinatra] [@Write]


[color=00aeef]“Don’t be an idiot.”[/color] Ben supplied helpfully, ruffling his best friend’s hair enough to make her need a second to fix it. It’d distract her from being mopey (or insane) for a second. [color=00aeef]“We just made a couple grand on a mission where I fought a Manticore and you were running around topless half the time. And that’s before we get into starting an elevator by electrocuting Luke. I’d call that crazier than hiding from Bratva in a bull. You were [i]sober[/i] for this. So if you don’t think you’re gonna have crazy stories with [i]this[/i] crew, you’re an idiot.”[/color]


[color=00aeef]Besides, ‘hatred  for the White Devil’ includes [i]me[/i]. You can’t hate me.”[/color] The Huntsman-in-training continued, eyes scanning his surroundings even though most of his attention was still on his teammate. The line really was glacial; they had taken maybe a few steps the entire time Lauren was talking. [i]Maybe[/i].At this rate they’d be waiting ages just to get in, if they got in at all. What could speed things up… [color=00aeef]“I’m pretty sure that’s against some kind of rule.”[/color]


[i]Perfect[/i].


[color=00aeef]“Speaking of stories, follow me and stick to mine.”[/color] His arm, snaked around Lauren’s waist after he ruffled her hair, yanked her out of line with him while he slipped on his BaSTEELs. Once he was sure she had come with him he pulled his arm away, resting his palm loosely on Artorius’ handle. Bastille’s leader slipped comfortably into the wake of a well-respected (and admittedly hot) arrival he recognized from an announcement as now-Professor Nuit, traveling a few feet behind and to her right. He doubted she even really noticed he was there, nor that Lauren had gotten the cue and started flanking her left. Not even all the would-be-patrons noticed, though the ones that did were shooting them murderous looks. The Vale native just ignored them, keeping his face neutral. Almost bored, like the whole situation was beneath him.


It stayed that way right up until the bouncer decided it was a good idea to stop him.


“Hey, back of the line. You can’t just walk up here.”


[color=00aeef]”Excuse me?”[/color] Ben stopped, less because of the hand barring his way and more to stare at the bouncer. [color=00aeef]”What was that?”[/color]


“I said ‘back of the line’, what are you, deaf?” Junior’s henchman rolled his eyes behind his shades, and stabbed a finger towards the line stretching down the street. “Unless the boss got plastic surgery, you don’t walk in. Wait your turn.”


[color=00aeef]”You’re new, so I’ll fill you in.”[/color] His face stayed bored, but a hint of irritation was creeping into his tone. [color=00aeef]“Let us through, or [i]you’ll[/i] have to explain to Ms. Nuit why her security is stuck outside.”[/color]


“Ms. Nuit don’t need security, she can take care of herself. I’ve been working for Junior for years and she’s never had security with her before. Nice try, kid.”


[color=00aeef]”You’ve never been beaten up by a girl younger than [i]me[/i] before, have you? Ms. Nuit didn’t need any security when she thought Junior’s was [i]competent[/i].”[/color] The last word took an on abruptly harsh tone, while Ben slipped off his BaSTEELs and deposited them in his pocket so he could look the mook in the eye. His tone was soft, now, dangerously smooth with an aura of impatience. [color=00aeef]”My employer could lay either of us out flat, but she’s not here to watch her back. She’s here to have fun. So she pays [i]us[/i] to watch her back.”


“Now, I get it. Most of Junior’s crew is still laid up, you’re not used to working the door. I’d like to cut you some slack. But the boss’ll feed me [i]my[/i] teeth if we’re not in there in five minutes, and I’d rather feed you yours than get her pissed at me. So you can let us in, I can step [i]over[/i] you to get in, or you can call Ms. Nuit out here to explain why you won’t let us through. God help you if you do.”[/color]


The henchman blinked first, unclipping the cordon and waving them through. “Go right in, sir. You too, ma’am.”


[color=00aeef]“Thanks. You have a good night. I’ll put in a good word with Ms. Nuit for you.”[/color] Ben slipped a few lien notes into the bouncer’s suit coat, patting his shoulder and drawing Lauren into the club with him after taking his hand off of Artorius. He kept up the facade until they were past the door, safely inside the club’s crowds, then turned to Lauren with a huge grin.


[color=00aeef]“So, what do you want to drink?”[/color]