Match 22784 Mercy Graves vs. Oddjob

[JohnnyChany]

THE GANGLAND WARS: Part 5

 

CONTINUED FROM PART 4

 

The day of the Silvermane meeting felt important. But not loud important, or headline important. Gangland didn't work that way. The city changed in whispers long before the bullets started flying.

And that morning, sitting behind the wheel of one of Madame Masque's luxury cars while rain crawled across the windshield, I could feel another shift coming.

It was my first major event as part of her organization. My first time seeing how real power in Gangland actually moved.

The car itself looked like something a movie star would've been chauffeured around in before the city swallowed Hollywood whole. Long black body. Gold trim. Leather seats that were soft enough to sink into. 

I sat in the driver's seat trying to look more confident than I felt. Lark occupied the passenger seat beside me wearing one of the sleek black-and-white tailored outfits Melvin had designed after she joined Madam Masque. Gold accents lined the sleeves and collar now, replacing the cold service Iceberg Lounge aesthetic she had been used to. And in the back seat sat Madam Masque herself. She looked like wealth and danger molded into human form.

"You know," she said smoothly from the back seat, "you really did stare quite a lot while I was disguised as Nora."

I nearly swerved. Lark slowly raised one eyebrow toward me. I kept my eyes locked on the road.

I stammered. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Madam Masque laughed softly. 

"Oh, come now." Her tone carried amusement like velvet wrapped around razor blades. "You practically looked hypnotized."

Lark smirked openly now. "Seriously?"

I gripped the wheel tighter. "She stood out. I didn't know who she was."

Madam Masque leaned forward slightly between the seats. "Men are all the same. It’s so easy to grab your attention."

Then she tilted her masked face thoughtfully. "Though I do wonder, how much you would've stared if I'd arrived with my real face."

One of her gloved hands touched the edge of her golden mask. For one unbelievable second, I thought she was actually going to remove it. Instead, she laughed quietly and leaned back again.

"No. I think I'll keep some mystery."

Lark immediately spoke up. "You wouldn't need to hide your face from me."

Madam Masque tilted her head slightly. "Oh?"

Lark's voice remained calm and sincere. "My respect for you goes far beyond physical appearance."

For a moment the car became strangely quiet, although Madam Masque seemed to take the words to heart. Then Madam Masque spoke again.

"You know, there was actually a period where I no longer needed the mask."

That got both our attention.

"The Hood healed my disfigurement years ago using the Reality Stone."

"The actual Reality Stone?" I repeated in disbelief.

"The genuine article."

She sounded oddly casual about that.

"But by then," she continued softly, "I had grown accustomed to the mask. I enjoy wearing it now."

Lark glanced toward her. "For intimidation?"

Madam Masque laughed. "Among other things."

She turned her gaze toward the rain-soaked city outside. "I suspect the Hood may eventually appear in Gangland someday."

"If he did, do you think he'd use the Reality Stone to heal Harvey Dent?" Lark asked. “You know if he still had access to it.”

Madam Masque answered instantly. “The better question is whether Two-Face would allow him to."

That one lingered with me. Because she was right. Some scars stopped being injuries after enough years. They became identity. I found myself wondering how much of Gangland operated that way. How many people here secretly needed their damage because they no longer knew who they'd be without it.

Before I could think much further, Madam Masque changed subjects.

"As for today's meeting, this was inevitable."

I glanced into the mirror. "Because of Tombstone taking over the Warehouse District?"

"Precisely." She crossed one long leg over the other. "Silvermane has a habit of circling the wagons whenever Gangland becomes unstable. He always calls upon me and Auric Goldfinger during moments like this since our territories border his own."

 

 

Lark smirked faintly. “And because he wants to know where everybody stands."

Madam Masque nodded approvingly. "Very good."

I frowned slightly. "You make him sound paranoid."

That actually amused her.

"Another good observation." She leaned back comfortably. "Because he is paranoid."

Rain streaked across the windshield while she continued. "Silvermane's power isn't nearly as absolute as the public believes."

That surprised me. Most people in Gangland talked about Silvermane like he was untouchable.

Madam Masque continued: "He has an extremely testy relationship with Kingpin."

That part made more sense. Two men that powerful existing that close together sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.

"And in situations like that," she stated, "alliances become extremely important. Especially during periods where power structures are changing."

Like Big Boy dying. Like Tombstone rising. Like Gangland reshuffling itself.

"So, what do you think of Silvermane personally?" I asked.

Madam Masque gave a small, amused sigh. "He was one of my father’s greatest rivals and he gets trapped in old ways."

That tracked. Everything somehow came back to Count Nefaria eventually.

Then her tone shifted slightly. "I dated his son Joseph on and off for years."

Lark turned fully around in her seat. "What?"

Madam Masque laughed lightly. "Oh yes. My feelings about Silvermane often depended entirely on how angry I currently was at Joseph."

Even Lark laughed at that.

Eventually we entered Silvermane territory. The district looked exactly like old money trying desperately to remain powerful in a changing world. There were massive stone buildings and private bridges. As well as industrial plants beside opera houses.

The meeting itself took place inside the Argent Crown Club. An enormous private social club overlooking the harbor. Silver lion statues lined the entrance. The valets in front wore silver gloves. The entire building looked designed specifically for rich criminals who wanted to pretend they were respectable businessmen. I parked in a hidden area away from the entrance pointed out to me by Madam Maque. 

Lark immediately checked outside before opening her door. "I'll accompany Madam Masque inside alone."

I nodded. "Too much muscle makes Silvermane nervous?"

"Exactly."

The logic was very similar to the night with Influence heading toad the Iceberg Lounge. Small crews and respectful appearances. Crime lords trying not to accidentally start wars by bringing too many armed psychopaths into each other's territory.

Lark adjusted her coat. "And with the large oaf, Man Mountain Marko around, everybody's already going to be tense."

That name alone painted a pretty ugly mental image.

Lark pointed at me. "You stay with the car."

I nodded.

"Keep an eye out," she added. "Three major crime bosses gathering in one place could attract attention fast if word gets out."

Then she and Madam Masque disappeared into the Argent Crown Club together. Leaving me alone with the rain. For a while, nothing happened. Then another car arrived.

It had a long silver body, armored plating hidden beneath immaculate luxury styling, and tinted windows. It pulled into the only other parking spot in the area. 

A few moments later, a third vehicle pulled in. It was gold, not subtle gold, aggressively gold. It pulled up right behind the second car. I immediately heard angry shouting from inside it. The rear passenger door opened. Auric Goldfinger stepped out red-faced and furious in an immaculate gold-patterned suit.

"What is this nonsense?!" he exclaimed.

Then the driver's side opened. His driver and bodyguard, Oddjob emerged silently. He had massive shoulders and an expressionless face topped with a bowler hat. He marched directly toward the silver vehicle occupying the reserved spot and opened the back door. He no doubt intended immediate violence 

But before he could reach inside, an athletic woman with short hair tucked into a driver’s cap  stepped out of the driver’s side front door of the silver vehicle.

“If you value your life,” she threatened. “You will shut that door this instant!”

Oddjob slowly turned toward her. The atmosphere changed instantly. The woman didn't flinch.

"If you want to try me," she continued calmly, "you'll regret it."

Oddjob stepped toward her anyway. Then another voice interrupted.

"Mercy. Please."

To my absolute shock, Lex Luthor stepped out of the car next. Lex Luthor had legitimate public ambitions. Political ambitions. Corporate ambitions. The kind of ambitions that usually required you not to appear in a crime lord haven like Gangland.

Even Goldfinger looked stunned. "What in God's name are you doing here?"

Lex adjusted his cufflinks calmly. "Silvermane requested my attendance personally."

Goldfinger narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why?"

Lex smiled. "He has a business arrangement he'd like to discuss with you and Miss Frost. One requiring my assistance."

Goldfinger visibly disliked this. But after a moment he pushed through it and extended his hand.

"Very well then."

Lex shook it.

"Oddjob. Stand down," Goldfinger barked.

At that moment a woman exited Goldfinger's car, blonde, confident, and sharp-eyed. She was dressed in a fitted gold jacket with black gloves and enough swagger to make everybody nearby feel underdressed. She looked disappointed.

"Shame."

Mercy glanced toward her. The blonde woman smirked.

 

 

"I wanted to see if Lex's driver was actually bold enough to fight Oddjob."

"I'll protect Lex from anyone," Mercy declared. Her eyes locked onto Oddjob. "And I'm not scared of anybody."

Oddjob stared at her silently. Honestly? Even at that moment I knew she wasn’t bluffing.

Lex looked mildly charmed by Goldfinger’s female acquaintance.

"I don't believe we've met."

Goldfinger gestured toward her. "This is Miss Galore. One of the best pilots and operators in the business. In fact, she leads an entire crew."

Lex seemed genuinely intrigued. "A pleasure."

Pussy Galore smiled politely. 

"We should probably continue introductions inside lest we keep our host waiting," she suggested. 

Goldfinger nodded. "Quite right."

The three disappeared toward the Argent Crown Club together.

Goldfinger called back over his shoulder: "Oddjob! Find another parking spot."

Oddjob grunted quietly and returned toward the vehicle. Then Mercy made a mistake. Or maybe she simply couldn't resist.

"You're lucky they stopped me," she called out.

Oddjob ignored her.

Mercy smirked. "You should show Mr. Luthor more respect. In face you should apologize to him for the way you went after him.”

Still no response. She kept going. "Are you really Goldfinger’s muscle? I've seen scarier men carrying groceries."

That finally stopped him. Slowly, Oddjob turned and reached for his bowler hat. I was unsure of what to do, should I get out of the car and try to stop them? Surely a fight between the right-hand man of Auric Goldfinger and Lex Luthor’s bodyguard would only lead to more internal strife in the city. But what would they make of my presence? And was more chaos for the other Crime Lords what my current boss really wanted? In the end, I remained still and only watched it unfold.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Mercy Graves
Read more about Mercy Graves at Wikipedia
Official Site: DC Comics Links: Wikipedia Batman-Superman.com The Watchtower

Oddjob
Read more about Oddjob at Wikipedia
Official Site: MGM Films Links: Wiki for Oddjob James Bond Official Site James Bond 007 Gaming

[Boratz]

An odd but interesting but interesting match up!

Awesome continuation

[Venom 2009]

Oh, Mercy. 🥰

[leroypowell3]

For some reason I like seeing Mercy get beat up.

I'm going for Oddjob.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Boratz
5.00 - Venom 2009

FPA Calculation:
2 Total Votes cast
10.00 Total Combined Score
10.00 / 2 = 5.00 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Mercy Graves: 2
Oddjob: 5