A different take on crime (Open to the Black Lotus Society)

Natalia sat in her club. More specifically she sat in a large booth in the back that had two guards standing at either ends of the booth. She could see most of the bar area from here. Just one of the main commodities her club had to offer. But most people come here for a bit of fun afterwards. As long as her guests paid there membership costs all that was offered here was at a discount, even the rooms. But to Natalia it was just business as usual. It was a Saturday and her daughter was off in LA without a bodyguard, which did annoy Natalia but it meant she didn't have to give a reason for now coming home late today.

As for what Natalia was wearing, she was dressed as the lotus queen, her alter ego that ran this joint so that she could live in mostly peace with her daughter. She wore a slim and elegant golden mask, encrusted with diamonds. It looked only decorative but it was far from it. It changed her voice into one completely different from her natural voice. Yet the voice it changed it to sounded natural and a bit on the seductive side. Not only that it changed her reddish-brown eyes to a deep sapphire blue. Her bright red hair had been disguised as a sandy blonde. Her sandy blonde hair hung off to the side. One could call it a messy look if it hadn't been meticulous brushed and combed. Her tattoo on her neck was hidden. The simple black lotus flower tattoo showed she was part of the society. All members where required to have it on their body, regardless if they where just customers or employees. Natalia wore a long, low cut black dress with a high slit on the left side. She wore a pair of 4 inch black heels to match it. Her gold and silver jewelry that depicted lotus flowers stood out brightly.

So far today had been rather boring, mostly paper work. Running a lounge wasn't all fun and games. But this new partnership with the Ultra Gang so far proved to be fruitful. But Natalia knew that it wouldn't last long. The two higher up members she met confirmed the fact they couldn't be trusted. Natalia had already been using her Shadows to try and plant doubt with in the ultra gang's ranks. If she could weaken them in the end it would just work out better for her in the long run. Natalia reached over and lifted up a glass of wine, bringing it to her lips. She drank a small amount of it before placing it down. The thought of potentially doing something more forceful had floated around for a bit. Her legal company sat right at the border of her land and the Ultra Gang's she wanted to get a better control over that land. Not that anyone in the club would know why she wanted the land. The problem wasn't lacking the force. The problem was the truce.

It was a Saturday, which usually meant nothing to Alpha, save for the fact that he had a few duties to attend to. Ones that were of a less serious nature, but ones that were important nonetheless, as they involved obligations beyond the ones that consumed most of his time. Mentally he had been tallying the time between now and the last time  he had slept, which totaled up to around three days and the minutes continued to stack up. It was times like this that he so enjoyed a mind that could continue to calculate things while he went on with life. The location was New York, a certain club that went by the Black Lotus or something along those lines. His mind wasn't on the specifics, as he was more than aware of the true nature of this club. A hive of crime ruled by its queen, a competent woman with more than enough power to make up for what her mind could not.

“Really?” The young female would ask, tone attempting to be sensuous and only doing the job half right. He wouldn't complain of course, as Alpha was playing the whole charismatic routine.

”Yes, really. It's messy really, but progress always is.” He responded with a small smirk, tapping the female on the nose, unknowingly to her it was a patronizing gesture. ”But we seem to be out of wine.” He noted, gripping the bottle by the neck and swirling it around to make note of the lack of liquid in it. Not that he was consuming any of it, but it seemed that his companions were sorely missing their precious drink. After all, they had entertained him, so the only right thing was to make sure they were properly hydrated.

“Well, maybe if a certain someone hadn't drunk it all.” The male draped over his other shoulder quipped, shooting a look the female on his other, causing her to frown. A single finger had brushed across the tattoo emblazoned across his shoulder, usually hidden by either a shirt or his own expert make up work.

”No need to argue you two.” He stated, all sweetness as usual, tracing a finger under both chins, bringing them to line almost too easily. His involvement with The Black Lotus society might have not gone well if The Ultra Gang knew of it, but then again they would never know of that. All he needed was a little mind control and no one caught under his sway would ever dare tell that little tidbit. While that group was useful to him, they were not as useful as this shadow organization, because they never risked themselves the way The Ultra Gang did in attacking a city.

“So, you still have an hour left with us.” One of them noted suggestively. “What does the famous Mister Masters want?” They traced a finger along his chest, something that no one would consider toned, but he was by no means scrawny.

”I'm afraid i'll have to skip out on the rest of our time. Business calls, though I might have to keep that in mind for our next...session. You two have done your jobs well, that's worth extra in my opinion.” Oh they loved the extra money, but then again everyone loved money. A kiss for each and he was once again buttoning up his shirt, waving the two goodbye and from the room he walked, running a few fingers through his dirty blond hair. Where he found himself was one of the booths at the back, eyeing two rather intimidating guards as he adjusted his tie. ”I'm here to see the queen.” He stated and waited to be admitted.

Natalia was reviewing city blueprints when she heard a voice she had become rather familiar with. She waved her hands and her body guards allowed the man through the barricade and into her booth. An extremely attractive woman, who was scantily clad in an outfit which one could assume to be a a french maid costume, pulled out a glass and placed it in front of where ever Alpha decided to sit. She would tend pour him a tall glass of wine before once again standing off to the side until she received more orders. While the woman was bent over one could see a small back tattoo on the inside of her cleavage, marking her as one of society. But her role to most remained unknown to most and those who where curious where usually afraid to ask. Natalia tend to switch up her personal staff from day to day yet this woman, like her bodyguards remained a constant. After a few moments Natalia organised the blue prints and put them off to the side.

"Duke Masters, what a pleasant surprise. I see you have been enjoying the perks of your rank. With the amount of money you drop on those two I assumed I wouldn't be seeing you for quite some time. But it seems they just get to enjoy themselves while you are gone." said Natalia with a sly smile. She liked to keep tabs on what happens in her lounge. She had been informed a while back about which two Alpha enjoyed.

"If you keep it up they might just want to go home with you. I keep hearing stellar reviews from them. But for the sake of decency i'll just leave that topic there." mused Natalia as she picked yup another stack of papers and began flipping through them. She had pretty high hopes for Alpha, his efforts and information had spend up her plans quite a bit. In a day she learned about the Ultra Gang, while her shadows would take at least a week to secure the information and make sure they would not get caught.

"So Mr. Master, what may I help you with?"

As witty as ever, it seemed the Lotus Queen had some manner of quip regarding his choice within escort. ”Those who do their jobs exceptionally should be rewarded proportionally.” he shrugged with with a small smirk, considering the female before him. She had ruled this society of hers for quite some time, through fear of what great power she commanded. Grey eyes flitted from the mask to the files that were settled upon the table,  a cursory glance that didn't seem like much, but he could gain a lot from the simple glance. She stated something about them going home with him, not that he would let that happen. Too many disapproving eyes would be upon him them, and that was something Alpha had no interest in happening. What was meant by stellar reviews, well that was something he would have to find out for himself, though he knew that they enjoyed his company.

”I don't know your grace, if I were to take them home with me I doubt I would be leaving my bedroom.” He replied with a chuckle, a joke that he had hoped would not fall as flat as his usual.  After all, as Travis Masters he was supposed to be witty. However, she would get to the heart of the matter soon enough, as she always seemed to be. She wanted to know what he wanted with her, though the wording was far sweeter than usual. Offering a smile as sweet as honey, he would dig around his pocket and drop a single USB drive on the table with a near silent clink. ”What I always offer you of course, information. Knowledge is after all  a powerful weapon when put in the hands of those that know how to use it.” Pausing he would wait for her to react before continuing.

”That small drive holds a large amount of useful data on certain prominent gangs in Chicago. Their meeting places, their key members, down to the darkest and dirtiest secrets they hold. Normally I would have acted on my own, but....I think it's only proper to have the queen privy to potential expansion.”

Natalia let out a light chuckle at Alpha's response. At least he had a sense of humor. Not many people dared to do that around her. At least not as the Lotus Queen.  But then again most people who be stupid to act so leisurely around her. But Alpha was a duke and she was in a relativity good mood today.

"If you were to take them home their rates would double and their care would be yours. But it would completely doable. And I wouldn't worry about them leaving your bedroom, I would worry about them not letting you leave." said Natalia with a slight chuckle. Alpha placed down an USB filled with information. Alpha explained what it was and she sighed.

"Ever since we relocated those damn copycat gangs have been popping up. I was just going to let them go since i didn't think they would expand so much. I'll send some shadows to investigate. If they are worth saving I'll work them into the society. If not they will be eliminated." said Natalia, with a slightly stressed look on her face. This was the last thing she needed right now.  She picked up her glass and drained the contents with in a matter of moments. The maid looking woman walked up and fill the glass up immediately after. Natalia made a motion and the woman placed the bottle of wine on a small table before returning and sitting next to Natalia, reaching over and messaging her back. A bit unprofessional but stress was high.

"I thank you for the information. I wasn't going to bother then send shadows." said Natalia with a slight moan as she relaxed from the message. It was only a small one but still felt good.

"I trust I can leave a majority of this issue to you? A council member will contact you with in a few days with more information."

As Alpha did with everyone, he would attempt to gauge their response, even though it was nowhere near obvious that he was doing so. Hiding his motives and emotions was one thing that Alpha had a very easy time doing, it came second nature to him almost. ”What I had in mind was more of a radical take over. Your level of involvement is all up to you.” He could tell the news stressed her slightly, but then again stress came when one lead. If they could not take the burden, then they were in a painful position indeed. Alpha considered the cup of wine he had been presented, picking it up and swirling the liquid around within its cup.

”As far as the matter is concerned, you could leave it all up to me. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you” Honestly, he would have been able to finish all of this within a week, but whatever protocols needed to be followed would be.

(May I join?)