Match 22759 Madame Masque vs. Jay, Lark, and Raven

[JohnnyChany]

THE GANGLAND WARS: Part 2

 

Looking back on it now, I realize that brief interaction before my trip to the Iceberg Lounge was the last time I would ever see Flattop Jones alive. At the time, though, I didn't know that. Hell, at the time I still thought I understood how Gangland worked. I thought gangs threatened each other, maybe exchanged a few bullets, maybe leaned on some businesses until somebody backed down. I figured there were rules. Limits. A rhythm to things.

I didn't yet understand that once powerful people smelled weakness, ambition spread faster than blood in water. And the wildest part? The night was only getting started.

Rain hammered the windshield as Influence drove us east through the glowing arteries of Gangland. The city looked different after dark. Meaner. Neon signs reflected in puddles like open wounds while steam billowed from sewer grates.

Influence drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting calmly on his knee. He looked immaculate as always in his green pinstripe suit. I had followed his earlier advice and dressed for the Iceberg Lounge. Dark navy overcoat. Gray wool scarf. Fresh black pinstripe suit underneath. I still looked like a Caprice hoodlum, but now I looked like one who could survive arctic temperatures while committing felonies.

Influence glanced at me while the windshield wipers beat rhythmically.

"Understand something," he said. "Tonight's important."

I nodded.

"We need a good rapport with Penguin."

He said the name like a businessman discussing a foreign investor instead of one of the twelve most dangerous individuals in Gangland.

"Something big is going down tonight," he continued. "And we don't want Oswald getting suspicious of Big Boy's motives. Better we clue him in now.”

I kept my face blank. I knew exactly what he meant. Somewhere in the Docks District, Flattop was hunting Hammerhead.

Influence continued further. "You were invited because some strange things happen at the Lounge from time to time. Added muscle never hurts. But we're keeping our presence small out of respect. Showing up deep would look like we're preparing for trouble."

"Aren't we?" I asked.

Influence smiled faintly. "In Gangland, we're always preparing for trouble."

The car crossed a narrow bridge into Penguin territory. The atmosphere changed almost immediately. The streets became cleaner. More elegant. Old-fashioned streetlamps cast pale pools of amber light across sidewalks dusted with thin layers of artificial frost. Jazz drifted from open club doors. Men in tuxedos smoked beneath glowing marquees while women in glittering dresses laughed with glasses of champagne in their hands. Everything looked expensive. Everything looked cold.

Influence lowered his voice. "Truth is, we're here for two reasons."

I looked at him.

"The second reason is Madam Masque."

That surprised me.

"What about her?"

"Big Boy wants a partnership with her more than with Oswald."

I frowned. "It can’t be for the territory? Why would he want his fingers in the theatre district?"

Influence actually laughed.

"No. Warehouse space comes and goes. Madam Masque has connections across the globe. Europe. Asia. Black markets. Private collectors. Weapons brokers. Smuggling routes that don't officially exist. Access to those kinds of relationships would transform Big Boy from a local boss into an international player."

The car slowed as the Iceberg Lounge came into view. Even from outside, the place looked legendary.

“Thing is her district is north of Penguin’s,” Influence concluded. “Optics are important and if we make an alliance that surrounds Oswald on both sides without him knowing, well…”

We exited his car. The building rose from the waterfront like a frozen palace, all icy blue lighting and black marble. Massive penguin statues flanked the entrance while white searchlights swept slowly across the cloudy night sky. Valets in white coats hurried between luxury cars while armed guards in tuxedos watched the crowd with careful eyes.A glowing sign shimmered above the entrance. ICEBERG LOUNGE. The letters looked to be carved from frozen diamonds. 

Inside was even more surreal. The air hit me first. It was cold, yes, but not normal cold. Deliberate cold. The kind of chill meant to remind you whose territory you were standing in. Blue-white chandeliers hung like icicles from the ceiling. Frost coated the edges of the mirrors behind the bar. Jazz music drifted lazily through the room while gamblers, mobsters, actresses, killers, and socialites mingled beneath clouds of cigarette smoke. Every table looked like a conspiracy. Every smile looked like a performance.

As soon as we entered, a woman approached us. One of Penguin’s top henchwomen, Jay. She moved with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how dangerous she was. Tall and athletic, with light auburn hair pinned neatly behind her ears. She wore a white waitress jacket tailored tightly enough to conceal absolutely nothing about the pistol holstered beneath it

"Mr. Influence," she said smoothly. "Welcome back to the Lounge."

Influence gave a courteous nod. "Jay."

Her gaze shifted toward me briefly, evaluating. "And who's your friend?"

"Additional security."

She smiled. "Hopefully unnecessary."

I wasn't sure if that was reassurance or a warning. Lark gestured gracefully toward the bar.

"Can I get you gentlemen something while I fetch Mr. Cobblepot?"

Influence didn't hesitate. "Brandy. Neat."

Jay looked at me. I tried to sound like I belonged there.

"Whiskey."

"What kind?"

I panicked slightly.

"The expensive kind."

To my surprise, that actually made her laugh. "One expensive whiskey coming up."

A few minutes later we had our drinks. Influence sipped his brandy calmly while I nursed amber liquid that burned like gasoline and tasted better than anything I'd ever had in my life. I watched the room carefully. Conversations overlapped everywhere. Politicians whispering beside card sharks, arms dealers laughing beside actresses, men exchanging envelopes beneath tables, and women in fur coats discussing horse racing while bodyguards stood behind them with dead eyes. It was impossible to tell which conversations were harmless and which would end with bodies in the harbor.

Maybe none of them were harmless. Either way, I realized something important sitting there. Big decisions got made in this club. Decisions that shaped all of Gangland.

Then another woman approached us. Raven, another one of Penguin’s trio of lovely lady killers.  She was striking in a completely different way than Lark. Pale skin, black hair, dark lipstick. A fitted black dress beneath a white service coat. She looked less like a waitress and more like someone who poisoned diplomats for a living.

 

"Penguin's ready to see you," she told Influence.

Influence stood immediately. I rose too. But Raven held up one elegant hand toward me.

"Relax, handsome. Mr. Cobblepot just wants to speak to Influence man to man."

Influence gave me a reassuring nod. "I won't be long."

Then he followed Raven deeper into the Lounge toward a private hallway lined with frosted glass doors.I sat back down. And that's when I noticed her.

The blonde woman stood near the far side of the bar speaking with Jay and Lark. She was stunning. Tall. Elegant. Platinum blonde hair cascading over one shoulder in perfect curls. Her silver evening gown shimmered in the Lounge lighting. Long gloves covered her arms, and a diamond necklace glittered around her neck.. She looked expensive. Not rich. Expensive. Like every inch of her had been carefully designed to ruin lives.

I couldn't stop staring. Then I realized someone else was staring too. At me.The feeling crawled across my neck like ice water.I glanced around subtly. Men at nearby tables seemed too interested in their drinks. Bodyguards watched reflections instead of people. Waitresses moved with calculated awareness.I couldn't tell if I was paranoid because it was my first night in the Lounge or because something genuinely bad was developing.

After enough time passed, I decided to check on Influence. As I neared the back hallway, voices drifted through a partially open office door. Tense voices.

Penguin's voice came first. High-pitched. Controlled. Angry beneath the surface.

"A rumor of a failed hit on Hammerhead reached my Lounge before your man even arrived."

My stomach tightened. Influence remained calm.

"Rumors travel quickly."

"Do not insult me," Penguin snapped. "And don't attempt that hypnotism nonsense you do either. It won't work on me."

I carefully edged closer. Inside sat The Penguin himself. He was short, round, and dressed in an immaculate tuxedo. His top hat was resting on the desk beside him.

"There was a hit put out on Hammerhead by Big Boy,” Influence readily admitted.

Penguin's expression darkened.

Influence kept talking. "That’s one of the main reasons I was sent here. To fill you in. I'm certain it was successful. Flattop doesn't miss. Hammerhead's people are no doubt spinning stories to maintain order."

Penguin leaned forward. "I think someone else is spinning stories."

There was a brief silence.

“What exactly are Big Boy's plans?” Penguin asked forcefully.  “And do they involve trying to intimidate me?"

"No,” answered Influence. 

"You expect me to believe that?"

"They do not include going after you."

Penguin snorted. "Perhaps I should offer Hammerhead the broken bodies of you and the thug you brought with you as proof that my hands are clean of this."

My blood went cold. Influence stayed composed.

"That would be a mistake."

"No," Penguin said softly. "The mistake may have been allowing Big Boy to think he could move pieces around the city without consulting me."

Influence's tone hardened slightly. "The die has already been cast. Better to move forward than panic about the consequences."

Penguin considered that. Then smiled unpleasantly.

"How do I know I’m getting it straight from you? Let’s try something else. We bring your young friend in, break his legs in front of you, and threaten to do the same to you unless you tell me everything."

I began quietly calculating escape routes immediately. As I searched through the lounge, I noticed movement near the rear exit. The blonde woman was still speaking with Jay and  Lark, but now Raven was with them too. All four women were casually blocking the doorway. Fantastic. I considered other exits while trying not to look suspicious. But then I overheard their conversation.

The blonde woman smiled warmly. "You girls really handle all this for Penguin?"

“Who wants to know?” Raven questioned.

“My name is Nora. I work for Madame Masque, but I wanted to see what other options are out there,” the blonde woman replied.

"We do more than pour drinks if that's what you're asking," Jay said proudly.

Lark smirked. "We run security."

"And occasionally remove problems," Raven added.

The blonde woman tilted her head thoughtfully. “Is that it? Hm. That's disappointing."

 

 

The trio exchanged irritated looks.

"What exactly is disappointing?" Jay asked.

Nora sipped champagne delicately. "Your ceiling."

That got their attention.

The blonde continued. "Working for Madam Masque, she affords me considerably more freedom."

Lark lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”

"Travel. International connections. Independent operations. Negotiating my own percentages. Building influence."

Raven studied her carefully now.

"What did you say your name was?"

"Nora."

It was obviously fake. But it sounded elegant enough that nobody challenged it.

Nora smiled. "Tell me honestly., do any of you have ambitions beyond waitressing and bodyguard duty?"

Jay frowned. "We're trusted."

"Trusted isn't the same thing as valued," Nora replied gently.

That landed harder than she intended. Or maybe exactly as hard as she intended.

Lark leaned back. "And what exactly are you implying that working for Madam Masque would offer us?"

"Opportunity,” answered Nora.

She gestured subtly around the Lounge. "Penguin keeps you close because he fears losing control."

Raven bristled. "He protects what's his."

Nora nodded calmly. "Exactly."

Then the blonde woman lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Madam Masque prefers talented people who can grow beyond their current roles."

Jay exchanged looks with the others.

Nora continued pressing. "You girls are intelligent. Capable. Dangerous. Everyone knows that So why spend the next ten years carrying drinks and guarding doors for a man who still treats you like employees instead of partners?"

The three women looked genuinely unsettled now and perhaps interested.  It was unclear whether they were buying what she was selling or about to attack her.

At the time, it just seemed like a recruitment pitch. A member of Madam Masque's organization boldly trying to poach top talent from Penguin's territory. Nothing more.

But very soon, all of Gangland would learn the truth. The blonde woman calling herself Nora was actually Madame Masque herself. She was a master of disguise and preferred to handle her own business when it came to situations such as this. She wanted to steal Penguin's prized trio right out from under his nose.

Looking back now, I realize that conversation was another domino falling. First the hit on Hammerhead. Then Madam Masque making moves against Penguin. Gangland was beginning to crack apart far faster than anyone expected. And I couldn't believe it was happening so soon after my arrival.

 

Vote for Madam Masque if you think she can convince the trio to join her. Voter for Jay, Lark, and Raven if you think they rebuff her. 

 

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Madame Masque
Read more about Madame Masque at Wikipedia
Official Site: Marvel Comics Links: Wikipedia Marvel Database Comicvine

Jay, Lark, and Raven
Read more about Jay, Lark, and Raven at Wikipedia
Official Site: DC Comics Links: Wikipedia Batman Wiki DCAU Wiki

[SSJRuss]

I love this. This isn't a fight, but recruitment. I do think Jay, Lark and Raven will consider the offer. Nora got it right when she said these girls were intelligent. I think they become convinced, at least one or two of them do. Then that starts to divide them, until they cave and take Nora's offer to join Madam Masque.

[leroypowell3]

I don't see why the girls would refuse to work for another lady. Madam Masgue should be able to recruit them.

[Boratz]

Another great set up and addition, Johnny

Clever idea for a match, too

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Boratz
5.00 - SSJRuss
5.00 - Venom 2009

FPA Calculation:
3 Total Votes cast
15.00 Total Combined Score
15.00 / 3 = 5.00 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Madame Masque: 3
Jay, Lark, and Raven: 2