~New Orleans, Louisiana~ (CV22U)

"Laissez les bon temps rouler!"

When babies are first brought home in The Big Easy, no matter if they're born to old money or new residents, the first thing they hear besides their mama's soothing voice is their papa settling into a big chair and putting on some kind of music. At least, that's how most folks figure. There's so much more going on under the deceptively laid-back surface.

New Orleans, Louisiana, is a vibrant kaleidoscope of culture and color that is unlike most other places in the United States. It is as unique a blend of peoples as the greater country it is a part of, though perhaps represents the collective better than any other city. The French initially settled there, back in 1718, before it was ceded to the Spanish in 1763. This was also around the period when Filipinos began to settle there as well, making up some of the earliest populations of Asian Americans. It became an important port city used to smuggle aid to the revolutionaries during the war in 1776, though it was briefly reverted to French rule just before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Throughout its early years, New Orleans had a prominent place in the slave trade. So many were brought in from Africa to provide cheap labor that a law known as Code Noir had to be written in 1724 in order to mass-institutionalize these Africans away from their native religions while also guaranteeing their noticeable lack of legal rights. This created a distinct culture within New Orleans, the wider state of Louisiana, as well as other parts of the southern United States: the Afro-Creoles, who still held to their beliefs from their home borders despite being baptized against their will. The religion most associated with this time period was Voodoo.

Following the Louisiana Purchase, New Orleans became a nexus of growing immigrant interests from the Irish, Germans, Poles, and Italians. Notably, between 1791 and 1810, thousands of St. Dominican refugees from the Haitian Revolution poured into New Orleans. This great migrant wave was made up of both whites and free blacks, a number of which also brought their own slaves who were either directly from Africa or of full-blooded descent. With the revolution also scattering St. Dominicans to Cuba, these were instead turned towards New Orleans as well. For that period of nineteen years, the population of the port city doubled.

Even with this in mind, the scale to which the Crescent City would expand could not be accurately fathomed.

Into the 19th Century, New Orleans would become the largest slave market in the United States. Paradoxically, it was also the home to the largest population of free blacks in the nation who were often well-educated middle-class landowners.

During the American Civil War, New Orleans was occupied by the Union Navy and suffered under a period of starvation. This would only be compounded by Union General Benjamin F. Butler - whom the citizens took to calling "Beast" Butler due to an order he signed that included looting the populace, threatening their women with being prostituted, and the abolishment of the French language from being taught in schools. This, along with pressure from other European immigrants pushing into the city, would put significant strain on the city's earliest influences and eventually lead to the disbanding of the city's last major French newspaper: L'Abeille de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Due to having been captured early in the war, New Orleans was spared the majority of later Union aggressions and its central location in the southern United States proved pivotal to ending the conflict and bringing the legislation of the Emancipation Proclamation to fruition.

Racial tensions would continue to brew in New Orleans for decades just as it would throughout the wider country it became a cultural mirror to. Jim Crow laws would remain in effect from 1889 to 1960, spanning nearly a hundred years of segregation and prejudice that didn't end with just the erasure of a few words on paper. But just as those laws were left behind, New Orleans once more became a beacon of something new and beautiful. It became a center for the Civil Rights movement, its voice being heard across the South louder and clearer than practically any other.

The growing emergence of the Mutant gene has not gone unnoticed. This has spawned both a new kind of hate group and acceptance movement, either side geared towards putting up with a war of words over the consensus of humans, Mutants, and the continued societal evolution of the world around them. It's all just another chapter in the great story the city has left to tell.

New Orleans is a place where the people have struggled just as much as they've gotten rich off the suffering of others. It's a place where the tale of America is plain to see in the faces of the tired, the downtrodden, and the stubborn. For the most part, despite everything that's come their way, the folks down in the Paris of the South don't see life as an excuse to bend down and surrender to the circumstances. They see it as an expression of what it means to be Human, Mutant, or anything in-between.

The world ain't perfect. People ain't perfect. Just do what you can. Play a song or two over the rest, and get on with your living. That's all anybody can pray for, and that's all New Orleans has to do in order to keep the record spinning.

Notable Streets

• St. Charles Avenue
  • At over five miles long and known for its iconic streetcar, it spans two neighborhoods in both downtown and Uptown
  • Its history spans back to the 1830s where it was used to connect Carrollton downriver
  • If you've ever seen a picture of the New Orleans Mardi Gras scene, it was more than likely taken on St. Charles Avenue
• Magazine Street
  • A shopper's paradise, it is six miles of stores, food, and relaxation
  • Even back in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Magazine Street was a bustling hive of commerce
  • If there's something you want, Magazine Street has it
• Royal Street
  • As the name implies, it is a more historically-inclined street with antique shops and museums galore
  • Its lifeblood dates back to the early 18th Century, at the very beginning of the city's existence
  • Despite its reputation as slower than Magazine Street, it is also home to numerous restaurants as well
• Frenchmen Street
  • Once regarded as a hidden gem among locals, it is now internationally recognized as one of the best places for live music
  • The street is allegedly named after five French patriots - or seditionists, depending on your view - who were executed in 1769
  • With the dizzying array of options to explore, it is easy to forget that you don't have to stray far from the music to rest at a comfortable hotel
• Esplanade Avenue
  • It is a quiet and humble place with a calming atmosphere amidst some of the wilder aspects of the city proper
  • Back in the 19th Century, this was an important trade route between Bayou St. John and the Mississippi River
  • Many mansions of the era still stand as part of an old, but handsomely groomed and maintained, "millionaire's row"
• Oak Street
  • This is a hotspot for the college student life in New Orleans as well as local artists, writers, artisans, and musicians
  • In the late 1800s, Oak Street served as the "Main Street" of the greater Carrollton area
  • As of today, it is a functional and thriving network of small shops and independent business
• Canal Street
  • It serves as a place for parading, shopping, and seeing shows at many of the city's restored theaters
  • Canal Street once stood as "neutral ground" between the old French and Spanish families as well as for the newly arrived American families
  • During Mardi Gras, the parade route can be crowded by up to a million people all packed together
• Julia Street
  • Nicknamed "Gallery Row", it is yet another hotspot known for its extensive list of art collections and displays
  • Once a part of the Warehouse District, Julia Street was simply a humble place for storage back in the 19th Century
  • Every first Saturday, galleries open their doors to the public to premiere their new exhibits
• Bourbon Street
  • Noisy, raucous, and nocturnal, this is the quintessential location in New Orleans for many people
  • The history of Bourbon Street is as old as the city itself, dating back to 1718 and named after Rue Bourbon - part of the French elite at the time
  • Among its many landmarks are the Royal Sonesta Hotel and the incomparable Galatoire's Restaurant
• Freret Street
  • Flanked by the Loyola and Tulane universities, this is a popular area to find drinks, food, and live music
  • Though the name existed since the 1800s, Freret Street was completely renovated in 2009 for commercial business
  • Featuring multiple restaurants and bars honored on many Top 50 lists the world over, you can't go wrong with stopping to enjoy the scenery
• Fulton Street
  • Once a nondescript collection of century-old brick warehouses, it was transformed in the 1980s when the New Orleans World's Fair arrived
  • The history of it is much the same as many portions of the Warehouse District, though it didn't come into its own until its revitalization
  • Its defining feature is a pedestrian-only outdoor mall extending for an entire city block, complete with bowling alleys and theaters
• Maple Street
  • A humble location between the Uptown Loyola and Tulane universities, it is another popular destination and forum for local artists
  • While more modernized, it is nevertheless an important piece in the moving clockwork of the city
  • Maple Street is lined with quaint coffee shops, independent restaurants and bars, and possesses its own musical environment
• Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard
  • Named after a New Orleans Civil Rights pioneer, it spans for ten blocks as part of a lively thoroughfare of food, music, and museums
  • Oretha Castle Haley fought for the end to segregation and for equal voting rights, with the street being named after her in 1989
  • The Boulevard offers a dizzying array of authentic award-winning cuisine from multiple areas of the city's past
• Harrison Avenue
  • Nestled between Canal Boulevard and City Park, this street is the focal point of the Lakeview neighborhood
  • As part of the Lakeview community, Harrison Avenue's history spans back to after World War II when families were reunited and grew
  • Along with many other streets, it is known for its extensive list of restaurants, bars, and entertainment
• St. Claude Avenue
  • Stretching from Marigny/Bywater to the Lower Ninth Ward, this street is line with food and drink and features its own unique nightlife
  • St. Claude was once an old street revitalized by a post-Katrina influx of artists and new residents, breathing life once more into its stones
  • Some of the best restaurants in the city are located here amidst humble museums and shops
• Bayou Road
  • This street was formed to bridge the gap between Bayou St. John and the Mississippi River over 300 years ago
  • Historically known as the first road to be laid in New Orleans, Bayou Road has never once stopped innovating
  • Home to a plethora of black-owned businesses, there is nothing but love for any and all visitors here

Landmarks and Locations of Interest

• Congo Square
  • Used by slaves and free blacks throughout the 19th Century as a place of expression, these grounds still hold power for music and Voodoo
• Jackson Square
  • Welcoming over two million visitors for art, photography, and ceremonies, this is one of the premiere backdrops for life in The Big Easy
• St. Louis Cathedral
  • One of the most recognizable features in the French Quarter, it is the mother church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
• New Orleans City Park
  • Ever since 1854, these 1,300 acres of vibrant greenery have brought in millions to appreciate the natural beauty of the city
• Laura Plantation
  • Home to four generations of a prominent Creole family, both free and enslaved, it yet stands as an intimate historical museum
• Oak Alley Plantation
  • Over 200 years, the property has been many things but now exists as a gallery for its complex past as well as an eerily beautiful estate
• Mardi Gras World
  • Founded in 1947 by Blaine Kern, this is where 80% of the floats used during the world-renowned festival are designed and built
• The Cabildo
  • Having served as the Spanish seat of government, this stands next to the St. Louis Cathedral as a historically significant museum
• Harrah's New Orleans Casino
  • In celebration of the birthplace of the first gambling casino in America, Harrah's opened in 1999 with over 1,500 slots and 130 tables
• Steamboat Natchez
  • This has been a favorite steamboat for over a hundred years, drawing in musical talents from all over the world to ride the Mississippi
• New Orleans African American Museum
  • Located in Treme, the oldest surviving black community in America, it is dedicated to preserving and expressing the city's unique black culture
• The Backstreet Cultural Museum
  • Another hotspot in Treme, this gallery displays the culture of the Mardi Gras Indians and handmade costumes costing upwards of $10,000 each
• Sazerac House
  • Built just a few hundred yards from the original 1850 Sazerac Coffee House, this immersive cafe offers an unforgettable experience
• The Presbytère
  • Once a courthouse designed like the Cabildo and built on the other side of the St. Louis Cathedral, it is now a showcase of Louisianan history
• The Music Box Village
  • Uniquely contemporary, this art sculpture garden showcases local and national musicians at a venue where every house is an instrument
• Le Petit Theatre
  • Established in 1916, "The Little Theatre of the Old Square" anchors the dynamic New Orleans entertainment hotspot scene
• The Orpheum Theatre New Orleans
  • Over a hundred years old, this theatre welcomes anything from world-class performances to weddings and Mardi Gras balls
• Algiers Ferry
  • Having been in operation since 1827, this lazy steamboat functions as one part local commute and one part historical tour
• Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
  • An authentic steamboat featuring a luxury dining experience and live music along the Mississippi River with a day trip to Chalmette Battlefield
• Civic Theatre
  • The oldest and one of the most respected theatres in the city, commissioned by Sam Stone in 1906 as a multipurpose venue
• Southern Food and Beverage Museum
  • A non-profit living history organization dedicated to understanding and celebrating the unique food, drink, and related culture of the South
• Lafayette Square
  • Named as such in 1825, it has been a pilgrimage site for school bands, jazz concerts, and aspiring musicians for over 150 years
• New Orleans Voodoo Musuem
  • Ever since the 1700s, Voodoo has been an integral part of the culture of New Orleans and this location aims to preserve and tell its story
• Voodoo Spiritual Temple
  • Established in 1990, it is the only "formally" recognized temple of its kind with a focus on West African spiritual and herbal healing

The Devil's Haunts

Some say that Lucifer himself walks the streets of New Orleans. He dances, he sings, he performs for the crowds. But his greatest lie has always been convincing the world he doesn't exist. Those who have seen him work know him by the quality of his craft. The Devil is not only alive in New Orleans; he calls it home.

"The Man with the Long Shadow don't stand still for no one."

• The Black Goat Nightclub
  • Every once in a while, when the horns are quiet and the ice in the glasses of its patrons settles, this bar is host to a mysterious performer

• The Bad Beat Casino
  • The Devil loves himself a good game, and there's no better place to roll dice than the luxurious riverside venue where chips crackle like embers
• Cloven Hoof Square
  • Named for a large goat sacrifice in the 1700s, it has become synonymous with sightings of The Man in Red Pinstripes as he dances through

Other Such Businesses

• The Ivory Keys Hotel
  • Famous for its collection of pianos, the centerpiece of which is rumored to be haunted, the hotel itself is luxurious if a tad unsettling at night
• The Forked Tongue Nightclub
  • Themed in celebration of The King of Swing, this nightclub offers an unforgettable and downright heretical midnight experience
• The Drowned Sturgeon Bar
  • The riverside dregs of society seem to flock to this place as if lured there by the constant slurred, rhythmic singing and drunken revelry
• The Thirsty Gator
  • A humble restaurant near the French Quarter, it's a family-owned business that focuses on homecooked meals at an affordable price

OOC Information:

Ayo, my home where I was born.

[Also nice work]

Sooo good

Very impressive. I love a fictional city but I can appreciate attention to details of an established locale as well. Good job.

@elliot_knox: @ravenna: @x-rey:

Thank you, all of you :)

This is going to take a while to compile all of the necessary information, there's... SO MUCH to tell about the city and I haven't even gotten to Mephisto's own little hangout spots

This 'Sounds' like a nice town to visit.

@beatboy:

I'd be surprised if you didn't ;)

@gambler:

rlly cool

@agent-k:

Thank you :)

In light of recent events at the paradoxically divine Hellfire Academy, tensions were high among the student body and the staff responsible for caring for and protecting them. All things considered, something as mind-numbingly mundane as a mail delivery shouldn't have included anything as curious as this. However, there are forces that infiltrate into everyday life through the simplest means

A certain letter would find its way into the stack addressed to the estate. Specifically, it was meant for the headmistress. It made itself inconspicuous enough, having been sent from New Orleans. Its contents were simple: a piece of paper with the message written for the intended recipient, and a business card.

The parchment itself was dense, more antique than modern convention. It had handwritten fountain pen lettering with a precise, expert measurement and positioning. From how the ink flowed from one word to the next, it couldn't have been inscribed with anything less than a luxury instrument for the task.

Dearest proprietor of the estate,

First and foremost, my name is Mephisto and I hope this letter finds you well. I visited your property without permission, and for that I do apologize.

I am certain that you have security camera footage of my personage infiltrating the grounds and wandering about in an aimless fashion. While I cannot deny any of this, I am able to say that I had no intention of defiling the property or endangering its inhabitants. I am also certain that you have security camera footage of the altercation I had with a certain elephantine giant within the boundaries of your front garden.

I trust that not a single splinter of marble has been misplaced? I did my utmost in maintaining the staggering beauty of your property, despite my intrusion.

Alongside this letter, you will find one of my cards. Should you wish, you can simply tear it in half and forget any of this happened. But I hope that you instead humor this offer.

I am a Mutant, but I am also a historian and practitioner of music. Therefore, I write this in eager anticipation of applying for any potential opening in your academy regarding my passion for song and dance.

If not, then I understand. My invitation to talk all hinges on what you do with my business card. Be advised, there is a minor magical enchantment upon it - but it is a simple transportation spell. It is a round trip to New Orleans, useful for any time and any place. Anything you touch will be taken with you.

Of course, I do not mind if you use it expressly for vacation purposes either. The instructions on the card itself are what you need to follow if you want to bring this transaction to life.

Until then, I wish you well.

Sincerely,

Mephisto

In direct opposition to the palette of the letter, the card itself peeked out from the envelope. It was ashen black, as if scorched by raw magma, with the pattern only broken by robust gold embroidery.

The only text on the card that stood out from the handsome, almost royal, lettering bled onto the canvas, striking a bold and unsettling contrast with its fleshy red.

It practically glowed around the name unusual name, drawing the eyes like a neon sign.

Need something you can't find?

Need someone to torch the place?

Hold onto this card and say his name three times:

Mephisto, Mephisto... you get the idea!

---

Meanwhile...

---

A modest cup of tea clicked down on its associated saucer, its handle controlled by a man in a red pinstripe suit. He leaned back into his seat, snapping the newspaper in place so he could read the latest headlines. His eerily permanent smile crackled wider as he peered across the various happenings in the local scriptures.

"Well, would you look at that? A new play is coming to town. The leading actress is quite the looker, too," he chuckled, sipping more of his tea.

The bistro around him buzzed with activity as per usual, but cautious glances were thrown his way every now and again.

"She'd best be careful in a town like this,"

Tough to follow lol. Great post

@thisisgonnahurt:

@thisisgonnahurt

@adela_roth:

Mephisto finished his beverage and left his waitress a good amount of money along with what he needed for the bill. He felt a slight twinge in the air, disrupting the otherwise uninterrupted channel of music flowing over the city like a melodic river. He gave a noticeable grimace at the bitter tone, finding his name to be invoked but being unable to actually go anywhere.

He stood in place for a split second as the magic and other associated forces worked out the kinks and found a solution, one he would have to quietly meditate upon as he went about his daily business.

As usual in a metropolis dedicated to his preferred art style, Mephisto's power reached a certain plateau. He had his hair smoothed back and with its bold crimson coloration, two black horns breaking the few errant red bangs crowning his brow.

He turned the corner to leave the establishment and immediately caught sight of what, or more accurately who, sent a chill up and down his spine. Regardless of whether or not he knew, the surprise still caused him to visibly flinch.

“Oh good heavens, where did you come from?”

Needless to say, her appearance put her heads and shoulders above the normal everyday rabble. Her selection of designer clothing might have stifled her natural beauty under the weight of labels and accumulated cost, but Mephisto never considered himself an expert in such a field in the first place and decided to discard any lingering thoughts about it.

Elements of the physical plane did not give him pause or alarm to begin with. Being punched, torn apart, or otherwise did hurt and required suitable time and energy to recover from. But those mysterious forces rubbing shoulders with his own were the ones to put ice in his veins. Sometimes, even momentarily, he feared losing his carefully cultivated powers at such intervals.

“Hello there. I am Mephisto,” he corrected himself with a courteous wave.

“You must have been the one to read my letter. In which case, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he extended his hand for a polite shake, no strings attached.

His permanent grin, while somewhat unsettling and definitely - unfortunately - reminiscent of certain altercations, steadily evolved into something more charming and less immediately hostile. He wasn't here to orchestrate a normal deal, after all.

"Of course, I'd be insulting the entire city if I didn't ask for your name. May I have the pleasure?" He would part from their small embrace and twirl his wrist around to give her a view of his open palm before curling his fingers back into a loose fist.

im new to rpg,so why is everybody writing stuff like:"he finished his bevarage so on...

Sorry for the delay in responding to you, but that's usually how RP works here :)

We describe how our characters are involving themselves with the setting and reacting to other characters while integrating what they're doing so that other people can react accordingly

It's a mesh of details :)

thanks much needed

@eman-11711:

If you want, feel free to post something here or in Midnight City and I'll respond :)

"You're tuned into 66.6 - Hellfire and Brimstone - hello and welcome, all you sinners!

My name is Mephistopheles... but please, call me Mephisto.

I know you're here for the greatest hits from the past century of jazz, swing, blues, and everything in-between!

So sit back, turn up the volume, and enjoy."

Mephisto cradled himself into the headrest of the chair he claimed, his feet planted firmly enough on the floor so that he could swivel slightly left and right. He wanted to spin around, but there were so many wires around that it dissuaded him from such tomfoolery. He wiggled his cane instead, grinding a flat spot into the carpet. He often had little to do in these gaps between his broadcasts. The music ranged from every conceivable category having to do with selling your soul for talent. He loved listening to the characteristic anthems. No matter the genre, he had his diabolical fingers clasped around its throat.

No one wanted to be a stick in the mud, after all.

His smile twisted wide. The opening chorus faded into a bridge, leading to the next in an inevitable fashion, but there was distance yet to close. His heel instinctively tapped along with the beat. A distinct, depressed saxophone screamed somewhere in the undertone. Each and every artist bled for this. They would never want or worry... but only at the cost of a thousand sleepless nights. Madness festered just under the surface.

Some turned to drugs to numb the pain of this new hyper-consciousness, the awareness of an insatiable and greedy world rotting within their beloved medium. Before their hands could pull away from the veil, they were dragged inside. Only a few would be able to escape. Mephisto played this game with all the subtle skill of a poison worming its way through open arteries - straight to the heart, twisting it slowly over the years.

He stared at the ceiling of his small studio, one of many temporary solutions while he hunted for a way to make his beloved Red Haven a reality. With a slight twitch, his malignant gaze turned towards the open door. The noise and lights of New Orleans attracted him like a moth to open flame. How many listeners did he actually have, this late at night? Surely... they would appreciate live entertainment instead. The Devil fancied himself as a showman most of all.

He flicked the broadcast signal off without looking away from the city's skyline. Without pausing, he stood up and faded away into a hardly noticeable shadow.

Cloven Hoof Square

The trees shuddered with a sudden gust of wind out of a dead midnight. As soon as it blew across the stonework standing in the plaza, the air became eerily still once more. Statues dedicated to the intrigue of the goat sacrifice stared coldly into an unknowable abyss. People always asked what the architects imagined they saw. Some whispered that the stone men and women were made with their heads bowed on purpose.

The Devil pranced his way through, mimicking the crescendo of whatever song he heard from the hysterical collage of sound parading into his ears and shooting from his toes to his chest. Each pulsing bass tone thrummed like thunder in his blood. They teased him forward, pulling him along to a song of his own creation amidst the cacophony. He smiled, thrashing this way and that, dancing to the pulse of a city that built itself on misery and jubilee.

Unlike the bodies in the swamp, it kept floating despite the pain. Mephisto kept smiling, kept dancing, his untethered source of entertainment ever being the souls he entranced and took with him from one end to the other. The Big Band was always looking for new members.

Without warning, he stopped. A small crowd had gathered, holding cameras in an attempt to capture something they didn't understand on film. Some were locals, folks who obviously knew the end to this story and quietly sat under the street lamps keeping The Devil's Soapbox illuminated. Others belonged to major news networks in the area shooting stories for local history.

"Welcome, all you sinners!" Mephisto chirped.

He hooked his thumbs under his coat and into his suspenders, giving them a satisfying pop. His head bobbed from side to side, his blonde bangs swaying just under the brim of his white hat. He stared directly into each and every lens pointed his way, one after another.

"My name is Mephisto - the voice of 66.6 Hellfire and Brimstone! Tonight, I'm feeling a bit daring so I'll be playing at The Bad Beat Casino all night. You heard me! Come test your luck, any game is fair game!"

He took off his hat and bowed his head, replacing it on his crown of straw-colored curls. Except, when he looked back up to gaze upon his captive audience he simply vanished - his body retracting into his headwear until it, too, disappeared with a 'poof' and a cloud of red confetti.

(Open for anyone)

@major_blackstar

'That's me.'

'Yep - once you get past all the bandages and scrapes and bruises on that wonderful face, and you focus on those deep green eyes lies the body of a goddess. A real knockout. A ten of ten, head turner. Not the superficial ones that open an Onlyfans account, but a real winner.

"Katherine McC....just call me Kat for short."

'You may be wondering how I got myself into this mess. Well...that's in itself is long story. It started off in Seattle - or was it Gothic City - maybe it was that time in Venezuela. It's all a blur now a days. Maybe it was the blows to the head. Maybe it was a drink too many. Or maybe it was just bad luck, but either way, I found myself locked up in New Orleans.

'If you knew me, you would know that I'm not the sort of gal that finds herself on the wrong side of the law. That would be uncivilized for someone like me. I am an entrepreneur. A go getter. A bottom line type of gal - okay...I'm getting long winded here. What really happened was that I met someone somewhere and they offered me a bunch of money to find this treasure. They said it was in New Orleans. They said to start in police station 13. Now me being not a government agent with credentials, I needed a way to get into the police station and search it with out raising suspicion - some real Mission Impossible type stuff. I made a call or two and this was the only way I thought made sense - all these charges are a misdemeanor, right?'

'The police didn't take kindly to my out-of-town beauty causing a ruckus. They said some other things, but searching the county jail was more on my mind then the charges. The guy that paid the money made it very clear. Find the item in New Orleans starting at precinct 13. It is going just as I planned. That is the good news. The bad news is I hadn't thought of a way to get out. I could, but then it would reveal who I am and why I was paid all this money to find this item and...and this radio DJ really sucks. What type of radio do they play in the Big Easy?'

@thisisgonnahurt ^

@pretty_kitty_:

There were times when the quality of gamblers attending any given casino in New Orleans just didn't seem to cut the mustard. Tonight, hands were folded and dice were pulled back away from tables at a record pace. Mephisto rattled his fingers, drumming in a consecutive line over and over again. He barely spent thirty minutes at the Bad Beat, and already no one wanted to play with him seriously. There wasn't any thrill in taking minor bets and wagers. He considered it pocket change compared to what he really wanted.

He sighed as the crowd remained thick and heavy around him. Some wanted autographs, others wanted to take pictures. But he chose to leave in a puff of smoke. Regardless of the fortitude of the normal populace, he sometimes struck gold by pacing the prisons of New Orleans and offering freedom as the prize for his nonsensical games.

Most knew not to trust him. Here, at Precinct 13, he merely chose it as the first to investigate because of the number. He considered it lucky, unlike most folks.

He strolled along the jail cells, finding nothing of interest... except for one. He stopped twirling his cane and tilted his head curiously.

She definitely had the face that caused trouble. Something besides her looks caught his attention, though. She obviously didn't belong, but he decided to ignore the elephant in the room... or rather the cat.

"Why hello there," he twisted on his heels, puffing out his chest in the manner of a showman about to open the curtain.

"Are you lost?"

His hand spun the cane around and snapped it into place as he clicked the tip of it against the cold concrete. The Devil wore his usual casual attire, that being a brilliant white suit and black boots. He had no hat to speak of, meaning that his horns were on full display as they poked through his curly blonde hair.

"You look like you could use a hand,"

@thisisgonnahurt:

"Nope! I got two of them." Kat would raise a curious glance toward the voice, the owner's horns causing a brief delay and then a smirk. "...Oh, you people in the Big Easy really do put the freak into freaky. You promoting something new from Kentucky Fried Chicken with that Colonel Sanders outfit. Spicy, spicy hot."

Kat would laugh thinking the pun was funny. What wasn't was the time she was wasting in lockup or the fact that she had not gotten any closer to collecting on her offer for flying south. She had discovered nothing even though the instructions clearly stated she would know it when she saw it.

Her disenchantment continued at her visitor much like a lady just wanting to get a drink with little interest of the other patrons at such an establishment trying to start conversation. "You the county prosecutor? Chief of police? The mayor?" Her eyes widened with the force of the morning sun. "Are you my lawyer? As stated in my statement, I told that man that I dont flash for no dang beads. I could use a cigarette though. Maybe some tylenol too. I'm just here on business. I just need to get out of here," she would say in a whisper and an exagerrated wink.

"I am rambling as usual. My momma always said I did. She would say I would go on and on- God bless her soul. Got me in trouble too many of times in school. I still have the progress reports to proove it." Kat could herself and stopped the ramble as she smirked at the horned visitor.

"Where are my manners," she said as she extended her hand. My name is Kat and who might you be? You frequent these parts often?"

@pretty_kitty_:

Mephisto let go of his cane, leaving it standing straight up, and kept track of her ornate tapestry of words with a notepad he conjured out of thin air along with a fountain pen. A pair of glasses floated down from the smoke and settled on his nose as he jotted down all of the interesting details she told him, one by one.

"Your name is Kat, you need to sample some better fried chicken, and your mother was very observant," he chuckled, placing a period on the latest sentence he managed to summarize from her string of commentary.

The pen, paper, and glasses vanished just as mysteriously as they appeared in a flash of red light - almost like fire, but without heat. He leaned on his cane again and it snapped out of the spell keeping it aloft. He extended his hand, shaking hers. It would have been a death sentence for most others, but he hadn't made a deal yet. This was merely a courteous greeting.

"A pleasure, my dear! I am known as Mephisto. As far as being your lawyer..." he pulled back from their embrace, rolling his fingers.

"I'm more of your magical wish-granting genie! A fairy godfather, if you will,"

He kicked his cane up into the air and pulled out his sleeve to catch it. Without warning, it disappeared somewhere in the confines of his suit yet he moved around like nothing happened. Mephisto cradled his fingers together and tapped them patiently.

"But! I don't grant wishes for free. You have to beat me in a game - one win equals one wish! Since you're a guest in my humble city, I'll let you choose the first game. Might I suggest rock, paper, scissors?"

@x-rey:

Some could argue that the cultural backbone of the southern United States did not rely on metropolitan growth, but instead subsisted entirely on centers of spiritual freedom and evolution. This could not be better exemplified than with New Orleans. Under the skin of every chapel, mosque, and synagogue was a muffled heartbeat of the deeper roots that built the city. Spirits, both evil and benevolent, stalked the streets - especially at night - and none were as well-known as the one that blended the various aspects of the human imagination.

Some called him The Devil, others avoided his stomping grounds like the plague for fear of Mr. Pinstripe Suit. He merely addressed himself as Mephisto, the one responsible for the greatest radio show under the Earth.

He usually had somewhere to go, someplace to be, but tonight he seemed to be interested in settling into the background, finding places here and there to investigate talent he intended on bringing into the Big Band. Of course, when someone spotted him, he would disappear into the shadows like he was never there to begin with. Eventually, his path led him into the mysterious cloisters of the black sabbath. Witchcraft always made itself prevalent in the city, in one form or another. The howling phantoms of generations past were ever-restless, and easy to manipulate given the right circumstances.

This particular section of town never ceased to entertain him. Sure, there were tourist traps, but the dedicated and the righteous practitioners were handsomely rewarded in their own ways. He walked the streets, inviting himself into various shops and dark corner stores.

There was a certain inevitability in the air. All he had to do was capitalize on it.

Regardless of his designs for Red Haven, there were a few places he could always come back to. Mephisto traveled the streets of New Orleans as he was so fond of doing, going heel-toe heel-toe with his dancing shoes. He clicked and clacked across paved stones, down cobbled roads, over brick paths, into stores and out of shops. Little more than a rumor, a chill in the air, a sudden glance over the shoulder and he was already gone. He'd be a blur in pictures, an unidentifiable hiccup in the radio. He smiled. Oh how he loved smiling.

He tapped this way and that, accumulating the thrumming heart of a beat. A tune appeared in his body language. He'd sing it for himself if he had to, but only he could bring it to life. That's all he wanted to do in this world. The rest of his time spent here was simply dessert to be spooned out at his leisure.

He stood atop a statue, holding on with one hand.

"I heard it once, in a lovely dream

Or perhaps a faded memory

Distant, glimmering

A precious jewel that was lost to sea

I promised you the starring role

Your time in the limelight

I always made it my right

To give that rug under your feet a... pull!"

He landed on the intricate stonework provided on the face of the plaza, and so he continued walking.

"I heard it once, never knew what it means

It's all in the past, full of regrets

Distant, shimmering

A lonely ship casting out nets

I promised you only good times

But they never last

It's all in the past

Full of miserable... rhymes!"

He conjured his hat and placed it over his red hair. The music following him blended into the natural city noise. He just seemed invisible, a phantom to those not seeking him out.

"That's always the excuse:

You only remember the bad news

The headlines about your name in red

The stories where you wind up dead

I remember the good times

Where we laughed

Where we cried

And I die a little inside!"

Mephisto admired the trinkets on sale in the windows as he passed by local shops. People inside were delighted by the displays, and love both young and old manifested in simple ways on every street corner.

"It's not like I can change it

I don't even want to chance it

We've been so cold for so long

The room is just echoing this song

I'll always think of you

Even if I don't want to

It's all over now, moon and sun

But the show must go on!"

The Devil continued to meander, continued to sing, but no one heard him. He danced along the stones, pranced down cobbled roads, darting this way and that. The life of the city became his own, its music and sins too. With a flick of his wrist, he manifested his cane and simply... disappeared.

Where he went, none could say. Maybe he'd show up near someone and engage in a conversation, maybe he'd managed to make a deal. It was practically impossible to predict him, unless he suddenly became predictable of course. But then... was that just another unpredictability? Only time and circumstance could tell.

For now, his song faded into the crowd.

@thisisgonnahurt:

Luna Steele, known in the shadows as Thunderfist, found herself begrudgingly on this particular assignment. Her client demanded the capture of Mephisto, with reasons undisclosed. Luna detested diving into such murky waters of uncertainty. If the whispers about this elusive figure held any truth, it only deepened Luna's wariness. "Target located," she muttered as she leaped off the rooftop, her foot meeting a brick wall in passing, a testament to her skill, before landing gracefully on the pavement below.

Mephisto, an enigma seldom sought, was about to receive an unexpected visitor. Luna's purposeful steps echoed behind him, a deliberate signal of her approach. She wanted him to be aware of her presence. If he turned, he would find Luna, a striking figure in her black mercenary attire trimmed with orange accents. Short, snow-white hair framed her face in a daring pixie cut, one side shaved. Her left eye glowed with an unnatural yellow hue, a telltale sign of its cybernetic replacement. A similar gleam hinted at the cybernetic enhancement of her left arm.

There was no grin on Luna's lips as she addressed Mephisto. Instead, a steely resolve permeated her words. "Are you the purveyor of wishes? If so, my employer wishes an audience with you."

@knight101:

Strangers in the night exchanging glances

Wondering in the night

What were the chances we'd be sharing love

Before the night was through...

"Hm?"

Mephisto had never seen the woman in front of him before. He had no opinion of her. He held no value to her, nor did he have reason to abhor her. She was a face in the distance, a number in the crowd, another pair of shuffling feet and another set of clapping hands. She could have disappeared as quickly as she found him, drifting between the shops and restaurants. Yet, she remained. She locked eyes with him. She knew he was there.

She knew who he was.

His tapping feet took a momentary pause. His breath hitched with excitement, and his heart skipped a beat. He matched her stoicism with enthusiasm. His dexterous hands flipped and twirled his cane, catching it from midair and leaning into it at an impossible angle. His very existence, animated and overjoyed, was obviously one of whimsy and wonder!

He looked out from beyond the solid rim of his black, circular glasses, and tilted his head up so he could get a better look at her various features, the most important of which rested in her skull just beyond her skin.

Her eye intrigued him. He never knew someone to place things such as that in their bodies willingly. He tapped his chin before answering her inquiry.

"Why yes, my dear. I am the mystical, magical maestro of the musical: the marvelous MEPHISTO!"

He produced handfuls of confetti in various reds, throwing it up for emphasis only for the material to strangely dissolve or disappear entirely before it even cascaded down to the ground.

"And I'm afraid you've been misinformed about how my game is played. I don't do wishes for someone I haven't met - it's bad manners! No, I'm afraid that wish is to be someone else's," he cradled his fingers, his cane resting in the crook of his elbow.

"Someone who has the initiative to seek me out on their own terms, to caress danger in the heart of a bustling metropolis of sin and debauchery! Why, it's enough to make the Devil himself cry - I should know!"

He laughed uproariously, not even pausing for a second.

"The wish is yours, should you accept my game... anything you want, all for a fair price!"

@thisisgonnahurt:

Luna observes Mephisto's theatrics with a raised eyebrow, her skepticism hidden behind a mask of cool composure. She watches the confetti dissolve into nothingness with a faint hint of amusement, but her guard remains firmly in place.

"Ah, so you're the infamous Mephisto," Luna remarks, her voice tinged with a hint of dry amusement. "Quite the performance you've got there."

She leans casually against a nearby lamppost, her cybernetic eye scanning the surroundings with a subtle flicker of yellow light. Despite Mephisto's flamboyant demeanor, Luna remains focused and calculating.

"And what fair price is that?" she asks, her tone betraying her wariness. She knows better than to trust deals with the devil, even one as charming as Mephisto.

@knight101:

Something in your eyes was so inviting

Something in your smile was so exciting

Something in my heart

Told me I must have you

The King of Swing's lips curled. His smile became a tapestry of sharp teeth cast against his pale face. His complexion brightened, and he flipped his hat off his head of wavy red hair. He caught it, dropping his cane inside only to have it disappear completely.

"The only stipulation is that you have to defeat me in a musical duel. It's just a bit of fun between new friends, an introductory gamble,"

Mephisto being the great acquaintance that he was, slowly realized he didn't know who she even was. He placed his hat back onto his head.

"Mmm... I'm afraid I never did catch your name. Do you play an instrument - or do you sing?"

@thisisgonnahurt: (Have a good weekend, Wars! ^_^)

Luna watches the King of Swing with a raised eyebrow, her cybernetic eye flickering with curiosity. She can't help but feel a tinge of skepticism at his proposal, her mind calculating the odds and potential outcomes.

"I'm Luna Steele," she says, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling within her. "You can call me Luna."

She shifts her weight, her white hair tousled by the faint breeze. Luna gives a nonchalant shrug at the mention of musical duels. "Can't say I'm much of a musician," she admits, her lips quirking into a wry smile. "Took choir in high school, but that's about it." She doesn't mention the fact that she sings as a hobby at home whenever no one else is around to hear her.

Her gaze sharpens as she considers the King of Swing's challenge. "What happens if I lose?" Luna asks, her tone betraying a hint of caution. She may be a mercenary, but she's not one to enter into a gamble blindly.

@knight101: (you as well :D)

The Man with the Long Shadow paused, considering his options. Opportunities such as these did not knock twice, so he figured that he had to capitalize - and in a major way. He stepped towards her, twirling a bit as he moved. He put his hands together and the street went eerily quiet. The lights, however, were only emphasized. She seemed to be suddenly caught on a stage with brilliant lamps bursting her way.

A microphone stand emerged from the swirling shadows encompassing the orchestral pit, and a jazzy tempo started to permeate the echoed chambers of the growing concert hall.

"Sorry for changing scenery on you," Mephisto winked at her.

This was no mere illusion, but rather he moved them to one of the many theaters crowding this particular street. His Shadow clawed its way to his shoulder, revealing itself as the culprit of this particular feat. The Jackal of Jazz smiled his rictus grin and the ethereal Big Band struck up a sinister chorus.

"I know we just met, but I have to say it now

Before you make your bet, you must absolve all doubt

I'm not asking for a high price, when we roll those dice

Together, together

You found me, I didn't find you

But we can be free, we can soar into the blue

Don't make me beg twice, we can make something nice

Together, together,"

His voice, like velvet, carried on the notes and rhythm without flaw - like they were always there, hanging beyond the cusp of hearing. He held out his hand as the music started to dwindle down to a slow, cautious meandering. The Big Band was waiting for her answer.

"If you lose? My friend, why fret? I'm not asking for your soul... not quite yet

No, the only thing I want for a while - is to see you let loose, and smile!

I'm the King of Liars, my dear, and you? You need to work on that, I fear

There's more to you than what you choose to reveal, so: do we have a deal?"

@thisisgonnahurt:

Luna gazes upon Mephisto with an unwavering sense of skepticism, but seeing beyond the surface to the depths of his soul. Despite the striking exterior, she sees his brilliant crimson hair as symbolizing his fiery passion and determination. She finds that beneath his cold exterior lies a heart of ice, his scarlet eyes reflecting not malice but a profound depth of emotion. Luna cherishes his devious smile as a sign of his resilience and inner strength, his razor-sharp fangs merely a testament to his unique nature. In Mephisto, Luna finds a steadfast being who remains a vigilant sentinel to his beliefs.

As the scene shifts abruptly, Luna's cybernetic eye flickers with subtle curiosity, capturing every detail of Mephisto's manipulation. Each calculated move he makes is cataloged in her mind, a mental dossier forming with precision as she analyzes his tactics. This sudden change serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the world she navigates, a world where adaptability is key and knowledge is power.

With a silent nod to herself, Luna acknowledges the significance of this encounter, knowing that every piece of information gleaned could prove invaluable in the days to come. She remains vigilant, her senses attuned to the shifting shadows and the subtle nuances of Mephisto's machinations, ready to act with calculated precision should the need arise. In the game of cat and mouse that unfolds before her, Luna is a player not to be underestimated, her mind a steel trap poised to ensnare even the most cunning of adversaries.

Luna meets Mephisto's wink with a measured gaze, her cybernetic eye glinting faintly in the shifting shadows. "No need for apologies," she responds coolly, her voice carrying a hint of steel beneath its calm exterior. "Adaptability is a skill every mercenary must possess." She doesn't reveal her hand, keeping her thoughts guarded behind a mask of neutrality. In this dangerous dance of words and shadows, Luna remains ever vigilant, ready to navigate the twists and turns of Mephisto's game with calculated precision.

Luna stands firm amidst the shifting shadows and the eerie melodies. Her cybernetic eye glows with a steady determination as she assesses the situation before her. She listens intently to the smooth song of Mephisto, the King of Liars, his offer hanging in the air like a tempting melody.

With a subtle smirk playing at the corner of her lips, Luna raises her cybernetic arm, the metal gleaming in the dim light of the spectral stage. "Nice performance," she remarks, her voice cool and collected. "Very well, I’ll play along but if you attempt to break your word, you will find me a most formidable adversary." She says with a stern warning.

She steps back, her stance unwavering, ready for whatever shadows or schemes Mephisto might conjure next. Luna listens to Mephisto's enticing verse with a keen ear before she breaks out in song with the voice that sounds surprisingly angelic.

“But your words of deception, I will not let near.

For I know my worth, my soul I'll not bet,

In this game of shadows, I won't yield to regret.

I hear your offer, King of Lies," Luna sings with a smirk,

"But to dance with darkness? That's not my work.

My path is clear, my resolve unbroken and true,

So sorry, Mephisto, but this deal won't ensue.

You speak of freedom, soaring into the blue,

But your promises are hollow, your intentions askew.

I'll keep my soul intact, not in your grip it'll be held,

For I fight my battles, by my own code compelled.

So tempt me not with your lies, your deceitful art,

For I stand firm, a force to never depart.

There's more to me than meets the eye, that's certainly true,

But revealing it to you? That's something I'll never do.”

In perfect synchrony, Luna echoes his rhythm and melody, crafting an impromptu composition with an enchanting elegance all her own. Her talent blossoms like a delicate flower, yet she harbors a lingering skepticism beneath the looming specter of Mephisto's potential duplicity. In the end, by this very act, she finally adds, "We have a deal."

@knight101:

The music swelled with a cantankerous explosion of sound not consolidated entirely to one participant. No, in the effort of fairness the Big Band poured their talents into backing Luna's stellar introductory performance. Mephisto watched her with a predatory glaze in his eyes, eyes that still maintained the passionate glimmer of an energetic host sharing what he loved.

Now that he knew Luna's hidden talent for song, that enthusiasm no longer felt misplaced or forced. His teeth parted in an uproarious laugh, a cackle drawn from pure joy. He pressed his top hat down into a manageable bowler cap, red smoke trailing off as he took hold of Luna's hand, leading her up a flight of stairs that rose higher with each careless step.

“Now that's the spirit!”

They reached a plateau that crowned the center of the stage, where the lights flickered off the bejeweled details. Smiling Jack took a page or two out of Fred Astaire's book, tapping his feet and setting the rhythm for a quick, wicked dance. It didn't matter if Luna could keep up or not - the Big Band struck up a chorus again.

“You can make a gator grin, with that sweet talk

You've got to sin to win, so let's take that walk

Together! Together!

I’ll tell you the matter, allow me to be crude

I'm mad as a hatter - when I'm with you!

Together! Together!”

He pulled her onto the bannister and slid down, catching her by her hand and giving her a twirl! Without much effort, her entire wardrobe was changed into something more appropriate for a fast-paced swing routine: a flowing, ruffled dress with long gloves and a hat fixed to her bundled hair worked just fine!

The shadows around them coalesced into a fiery tempo, and the seats beyond the stage started to fill up with humanoid shapes. The Devil threw his jacket off, catching it on a highly convenient coat rack. He let Luna soak in just what she got herself into while he thumbed his suspenders and addressed the growing crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special show for you tonight. Please welcome for the first time to the stage: Miss Luna Steele!”

There was a hearty round of applause, and Mephisto approached her with an outstretched hand. The music surrounded them, transferring an unspoken force through both flesh and blood.

“I have rules, you know. Sometimes wishes just get too messy for my liking,”

Mephisto extended his fingers, giving her four stipulations.

“Won't mess with life or death, it's too much bureaucracy

Swearing away your final breath is about enough for me

I don't work for any other fish, I'm yours and yours alone!

So when you make your wish, remember that dulcet tone

Can't make things on a whim, can't get rid of them either

Make it count, mind the trim, do you need a breather?”

He moved his pointed shoes towards Luna's tapping feet, challenging her to greater displays of hypnotizing dance. The song itself introduced blazing brass sections, turning the tempo on its head and a new and wild frontier.

The Man with the Long Shadow grinned all the wider, flinging his arms around and making a show of his hastening footwork.

“I think I covered everything - at least that’s it so far

Humans almost never think of keeping up to par”

His Shadow tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something either silent or incomprehensible into his ear. Mephisto’s face lit up like a lightbulb.

“One more thing, wouldn’t you know? Dark secrets aren’t mine to tell

With all that set, let’s go! You’re now a part of the Devil’s clientele!”

He clapped his hands, beginning a round of applause for the poor woman cast like dice into the great game being played. The shapes in the crowd started to take form, along with actual faces and clothing. They were a mixture of various time periods and appearances, presenting a truly kaleidoscopic view of music lovers through the ages. It connected them, and humanity as a whole, to something that could do this to them so easily.

Mephisto’s Shadow gingerly slid the microphone closer to Luna’s position on the stage while lights illuminated her. The Big Band went silent, eager to hear her tempo and improvise for her at the drop of a hat. The crowd held their enthusiasm, finally becoming concrete enough to actually identify as people. Humans.

Souls, lost to the ages, were watching her. They were ready for her serenade, perhaps have always been ready.

But most of all, Mephisto observed and waited. His lips curled and his pupils dilated. In that moment, he might have been sinister - but he was a fan, uniquely tuned to her imminent performance and politely handing over the reins of the show as any good host would.

He even bowed his head towards her and dipped away to give her room to express herself properly.

@thisisgonnahurt:

Luna's heart races as Mephisto leads her onto the stage, his infectious energy fueling her own nervousness. The music pulses through her veins, blending with the thrum of her chi energy, creating a symphony of power and rhythm. She meets Mephisto's gaze with a confident smile in order to hide how she really feels, ready to embrace whatever comes next.

As they reach the plateau at the center of the stage, Luna's senses are alive with growing anticipation. She watches Smiling Jack with admiration as he sets the pace, his feet tapping out a lively rhythm. Luna hesitates to join in, but cannot help finding herself matching his steps with a surprising amount of grace born from years of training and discipline in martial arts that are adept enough by allowing her to keep pace but not quite match the grace of Mephisto’s dance.

The lyrics resonate with her, echoing the wild spirit that burns within her soul. With each verse, Luna feels a surge of exhilaration, a sense of freedom in the music and movement. She tries not to, but eventually lets herself be swept away by the melody, losing herself in the moment as she dances alongside Mephisto.

As Smiling Jack weaves a tapestry of sound and motion, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony. And as the song reaches its crescendo, Luna throws back her head and laughs, her voice mingling with the music as it infects her to join in on the fun despite her misgivings.

Luna's breath catches as Mephisto pulls her onto the bannister, a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins as they slide down together. His effortless charm and seemingly magical abilities never fail to astonish her. As he twirls her around, Luna can't help but marvel at how he effortlessly transforms her wardrobe into something more fitting for their impromptu dance.

The flowing, ruffled dress and long gloves are undeniably elegant, but Luna can't shake the discomfort of wearing such attire, especially since it's pink, a color she's never been particularly fond of. However, she pushes aside her reservations, recognizing that this moment is about more than just her personal preferences. It's about embracing the unexpected and surrendering to the magic of the moment.

Despite her unease, Luna throws herself into the dance with gusto, matching Mephisto's energy step for step. She may not be accustomed to such attire, but she refuses to let it dampen her spirits. After all, in the presence of someone like Mephisto, anything is possible, and Luna is determined to savor every moment of this exhilarating experience. Which surprises even her if she allows herself to admit as much.

Luna listens intently as Mephisto lays out his rules, her mind racing to grasp the implications of his words. It dawns on her that Mephisto's abilities might indeed resemble those of a genie, capable of granting wishes but with certain limitations and consequences. The thought both intrigues and unsettles her, stirring a mixture of curiosity and caution within her.

As Mephisto extends his hand, Luna hesitates for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. But then she remembers the thrill of the dance, the rush of adrenaline, and the joy of being swept up in the moment. She pushes aside her reservations, realizing that sometimes it's okay to let go and embrace the unexpected.

With a determined nod, Luna takes Mephisto's hand, feeling the unspoken force that binds them together. Despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead, she can't deny the excitement coursing through her veins. It's not every day that she gets to indulge in such spontaneity and revel in the magic of the unknown.

With a newfound sense of resolve, Luna meets Mephisto's gaze, her eyes shining with determination. She may not fully understand the extent of his powers or the consequences of her actions, but she's ready to take the leap and see where this adventure leads. After all, life is too short to always play it safe, and sometimes, the most extraordinary moments come from embracing the unexpected.

Luna stands on the stage, her heart pounding in her chest as she surveys the crowd before her. The kaleidoscope of faces, representing a myriad of eras and styles, both fascinates and unnerves her. Are they real, or merely illusions crafted by Mephisto's magic? Luna's senses, honed by years of training, detect the subtle flow of chi within each figure, but she can't shake the doubt lingering in her mind. Magic has a way of distorting reality, and she knows all too well the limitations of her abilities in the face of such power.

Nervously, Luna offers a hesitant greeting to the audience, her voice barely above a whisper. She steals a glance at Mephisto, finding a strange comfort in his presence despite the uncertainty of the situation. With a deep breath to steady her nerves, Luna closes her eyes and lets the music wash over her.

As the first notes of "My Heart Will Go On" fill the air, Luna's voice trembles slightly, but she quickly finds her rhythm, her voice rising in strength and clarity with each verse. The lyrics resonate with her in a way she hadn't expected, speaking to the longing and determination that have always driven her forward.

With each word, Luna pours her heart and soul into the performance, her voice carrying across the room with a haunting beauty. Despite her nerves, she loses herself in the music, allowing it to guide her through the emotions that swell within her.

As the final notes fade away, Luna opens her eyes, her chest heaving with exertion and emotion. The crowd erupts into applause, their cheers washing over her like a wave. For a moment, she forgets her doubts and fears, lost in the thrill of the performance. And as she looks out at the sea of faces before her, she can't help but wonder what other wonders await in this strange and magical world.

@knight101:

Some parts of the audience recognized the melody. Fewer knew it properly, but all were silent. They basked in the world Luna painted for them out of the ink Mephisto provided. She wove a tapestry of pure love, lost but never forgotten, and the radiance of her voice carried to each corner of the concert hall.

The Big Band kept pace, rolling along with the slow initial tempo before reaching crashing tides of emotion with all their might. Still, the tidal wave Luna caused swept them aside and their instrumentals were dragged into the depths she spoke into existence. A few even shed tears, unable to cope with the raw desperation in her voice. It affected the shadows on the wall, sending them quivering away.

When she finished, nothing could prepare her for the staggering round of applause she received. Hundreds called for an encore all at once and in dozens of languages, filling the air with an undeniable buzz of excitement.

Mephisto emerged from behind the curtain, putting his hands together in an enthusiastic bout of encouragement.

“Bellisima! What a performance!”

The crowd stood up, giving her quite the ovation. She could get a better look at them all now. While most certainly not holograms, they were not physically there either. Their ethereal forms did nothing to subtract from their engagement, however, and some even threw living flowers at Luna's feet.

Mephisto's hands curled around themselves, knotting into a cradle of sorts as he let the woman soak in the admiration and spectacle. She was most certainly enjoying herself, and she deserved all of it with a voice like that in her arsenal.

His Shadow plucked a rose from the floor, chomped through the stem with its sharp teeth, and pinned the stunning flower into Luna's hair to compliment her hat.

“Well, folks, Miss Steele would put most fellas flat on the floor. How about you, sir? Do you think you'd stand a chance?”

He extended his arm and his cane reappeared, which he then pointed at an older man with very curly Van Dyke facial hair. The crowd member smiled wide, laughing as he raised his hands and turned away with a blush developing on his ghostly face.

Everyone chuckled at the display, and Mephisto dissipated the smoke from his parlor trick with his free hand. He turned towards Luna, tilting his head playfully.

“Can't find good help anywhere! So, I hope you've have your fun,”

Mephisto rolled up his sleeves and lifted his bowler cap from his head. He gave it a flick, returning it to its original smokestack shape, and threw it towards his coat. It caught the hook above it and stayed there.

“Because now… we have a proper competition!!”

He then aimed the end of his cane towards center stage, summoning a piano to match his outfit.

The Jackal of Jazz took a seat and tested the ivories. He started to laugh as the music naturally rose to a slow, melodic pace. A tight arrangement, with his chords, came together in a melancholy tribute to dreams long gone. He sat there, surgically measuring the beat with his heel, and felt the words come out of his fanged mouth - his voice as smooth as silk.

“It's nine o'clock on a Saturday,”

The Big Band echoed where they needed to, obeying their lord and master without hesitation. The room became just a bit hotter, so much so that even the ghosts started to sweat from the fire under their feet. Whether this was real or not remained to be seen - perhaps it never would be explained.

All that mattered was that Mephisto played a hellish tune, and the longer it went on the more it became apparent that his taste for theatrics could extend in practically any direction. For Luna Steele, his beloved guest, he showed her the wonderful magical side of his dream and allowed it to blossom through her.

Yet, for himself, he had no such reservations. As his fingers cascaded along polish brass, he conjured the spirits of souls bargained away for wealth and fame. He gave Luna a glimpse of his paradise: an eternal concert where musical hopefuls could go and win big or lose everything. The concert hall became a brilliant and bizarre festival of the macabre, extending beyond imagination and expectation.

He showed her the towering skyscrapers, the electric lights, the dazzling live shows, the dizzying casinos, and everything in-between - all from the vile arrangement he played for her. As the King of Swing, he required a throne. He wanted nothing more than to build his Red Haven so he could sing and dance until Armageddon.

But as soon as the vision made its merry way through sight and mind, it faded along dreams and circumstance.

The music faded. The phantom audience applauded, but not nearly to the extent that they had done so for Luna.

He let the last notes drift away into the night, then gave Luna one of his eternal grins.

“I think the crowd has decided, my dear… what is it your heart desires?”

@thisisgonnahurt:

Luna gazes out over the dissipating vision of Mephisto's grand spectacle, feeling the echoes of the haunting melody reverberate within her. The ethereal applause washes over her, a testament to the emotional journey they've all shared in this ephemeral moment.

With a gentle look, Luna turns towards Mephisto, her cybernetic eye glinting faintly in the dimming light of the imaginary stage.

"Thank you, Mephisto," Luna replies, her voice carrying a serene warmth. "Your world of dreams and music is truly enchanting. But as for my heart's desire..." She pauses, reflecting briefly on the question, her thoughts settling on something deeper than the spectacle before her.

"What I desire..." she continues, her tone steady yet contemplative as she looks down at her cybernetic arm. ChatGPT

Luna feels the familiar tug-of-war within her, a clash between duty and the desires that stir quietly beneath the surface. The weight of responsibility hangs heavy on her shoulders, a reminder of the lives she's touched and the promises she's made. Duty calls her to continue the path she's chosen, the path of the mercenary with a heart for hire, navigating a world where justice and compassion are often elusive prizes.

Yet, beneath that steadfast resolve, there's a longing, a yearning for something more. It's a whisper of dreams unspoken, of moments not yet lived, and a future where her heart might find solace beyond the battlefield. The thrill of adventure and the rush of battle have shaped her, but now, in the quiet aftermath of the performance, a different kind of yearning emerges.

Luna's inner turmoil settles into a resolute calm as she reaffirms her commitment to duty. The war within her subsides, replaced by a steely determination honed through years of discipline and unwavering loyalty to her code. She understands the weight of her responsibilities, the lives that depend on her skill and judgment.

Though the desire for personal fulfillment tugs at her heartstrings, Luna knows that now is not the time for indulgence. Her clients rely on her expertise, her unwavering focus, and her ability to navigate the complexities of their world. To stray from her mission would betray not only their trust but her own principles. With a silent nod, she utters simply, "What I desire is for you to come with me as I originally wanted. My boss wishes to speak with you."

@knight101:

His expression tightened aggressively. His hands audibly crinkled with a sudden strength behind his grip.

If Mephisto was able to frown, he'd lose his smile at the mere notion of being outsmarted like this. He grumbled and snapped his fingers, bringing his coat and hat back to their perches. He pulled his cane out from his sleeve and tapped the end of it on the stage floor.

The audience vanished in a puff of red smoke and the concert hall went disturbingly quiet. The Big Band disappeared as well, though more ceremoniously by crawling under Mephisto's coattails and sinking into his Shadow. The doppelganger itself curled its fingers around the Devil's shoulders and peered down at Luna with a sly sneer.

“Very clever, Miss Luna, very clever indeed,”

He placed his cane under his arm and held out his other hand to politely escort Luna down the stairs. Her dress became her normal outfit and her hat even floated away, crumbling like ash and into nothing.

“I had hoped we could enjoy each other's company for longer - perhaps another time! But a deal is a deal,”

He walked her up the aisle through to the foyer and ticket booth, eventually bringing her outside into the bright New Orleans atmosphere once more.

“So! Where is your boss? I am rather curious now, admittedly, seeing how adamant you've been about such a gathering,”

His sharp fingers, traipsing along his cane, stopped at the ornamental crest and flipped it down to the ground. He seemed slightly unamused, or even annoyed, but he had no choice. The Man with the Long Shadow peeled his lips back for Luna to observe another haunting smile.

He didn't know what game she was playing now, exactly, but he was a quick learner.

Bump for.... reasons (laughs like a maniac)

@darkchild:

Want to make a deal?

@thisisgonnahurt: oh why certainly. (I am far too high to write but yes we need to rp)

@thisisgonnahurt:

Gen enters the high end bar, dipping down as he does so. As to not slam into the top of the doorframe "I really need to look in mirror when I'm winging an appearance..." He thinks to himself as his eyes focus to the changing lights as he steps through. Groaning audibly as everyone within either turns their heads slightly towards him or full on stare.

Tall nearly seven feet and wide torso, jet black hair with graying portions, he's a literal eye catcher. He finds how sexual the primates were by nature utterly disgusting and wonders if he'll be able to get their smell off him. But he smiles as a young obsidian complexion female greets him offering him a drink. "No thank you my dear, I am far too much of a lush and would literally drink your supply if I started. I am here to meet...there he is..." He had not noticed who he was to meet yet, but he sensed him a block away. He followed what he could sense to a corner of the bar, draped in shadows his company sat. A wicked smile hidden by a sneer. Gen played his foolish self as he spoke and sat across the "gentleman" he disliked the setting intensely but he played his game for what he needed. "Often take your dates to elitist bars with overpriced swill?"

@darkchild:

"Heartaches... heartaches... my loving you meant only heartaches..."

A figure sat aloof in the shadows of a distant bar, long and away left cold by the presence of decent folk. Those left in the wake of his passing followed him without so much as a whisper or inclination to do otherwise. Sooner or later, they returned to their normal lives. Maybe they'd see him again, perhaps not. He played with their ears and souls, tugging softly at their desires and offering simple things in exchange for simple entertainment. Music and food were his favorites. Singing and dancing here exclusive to a showroom floor.

The Jackal of Jazz split his face apart in a long, unbroken smile. He crossed his legs as he faced the openness of the bar, red coattails draped over the leather. The table found the outline of his elbow hugged tightly by a pinstripe suit. Smooth and varnished, the furnishing endured his incessant tapping. Sharp claws left pinpricks in the wood.

From behind his round, black glasses he could see the gigantic man who demanded his attention. Needless to say, he did so from the rest of the establishment as well. Mephisto stood up, feeling himself dwarfed by comparison. After a brief handshake - and counting himself lucky to still have his arm afterwards - the Devil slid back into his seat.

"Perhaps, but no one will ever find the bodies," he winked at Gen, laughing afterwards.

"Oh, but seriously. You've come a long way, so I won't bore you with the details,"

Mephisto clapped his hands and wheeled them around. A playing card appeared for every centimeter he turned his fingers, fanning out in a wonderous little dial of colors and numbers. He tilted his head, his fingers resting against his wrists, and pulled these two endpoints apart. Those who expected cards to fall would be sorely disappointed, as what happened instead was... nothing! He wiggled his fingers innocently.

"How about we get to know each other over a few rounds of poker? It's a simple enough game,"

With his open palms towards Gen, he didn't have anything to prove.

"I know your name, you know mine. But we've hardly spoken to each other! I consider that very unfortunate,"

He placed one hand flat on the table. The other cradled his pointed jawline.

"So tell me,"

With one swift motion, he swept his hand across the surface of the varnished wood. A full deck of cards unfurled in that straight line, organized numerically and alphabetically by suit.

The band began to strike up a certain lively chorus.

"What's your favorite kind of music?"

@thisisgonnahurt: "Poker....good grief I came here for something I need." Gen thought to himself as he picked up his cards, a lousy hand of course. Certainly a courtesy of his dark company. Visibly irritated at the hand, he was given the lights in the bar flicker, and shadows grow as his connection to darkness trembles with his irritation.

But his annoyance quickly dissipated as the question of music was asked. "Thousands of years now I have lived, and the only thing that I can honestly is music is the single greatest thing developed by these damn apes. I have tried myself to make music, and all I have accomplished is making noise. But I truly enjoy more melodic, so perhaps metal and rock?" Gen folds, setting his cards down.

Gen leans back in his chair. "I have to ask firstly, how is it we have never met. Three thousand years (Gen does not know truly how long he's been around) I've walked this rock. Watched the apes "evolve"and watched demons get through the veil, even aliens. Yet not once did you blip on my radar. I only know you exist because somebody tried making you a comic character, Mephisto. How accurate that anyway?" Taking a sip of his drink, he continues whilst snapping his fingers at a waitress.

"Were you aware of my existence before I decided to return to humanity?" The waitress brings another drink, setting it on the table. Gen touches her hand and enters her mind. "You will continue to bring drinks at no charge to either of us..." waving his hand at the waitress, she leaves almost in a trance.