(OOC: Continued from Clashing Blades)

The drive only took five minutes. Maximillian opened the door and Hunter stepped out. The club was impressive form the outside, a larger neon sign that was dark purple, almost black, with the words “Black Talon” wrapped around a large pair of talons.

There was still a long queue to get in, with a pair of large bouncers in sharp black suits at the door. Hunter strode up and was recognised immediately, and they bouncers cleared a path for him and Kaz to enter.

Inside the club was mainly a large open dance floor with a long bar at one side. There was a balcony running around two sides of the room. The places we packed as always, but some of the bouncers saw him and began clearing the way, so Hunter and Kaz had a clear walk to the stairs.

Climbing the stairs he headed towards the club’s private room. Two more bouncers stood either side of the door, one of them opening it as he approached. Once inside he nodded to the half dozen scantily clad women in the room.

They had been handpicked by him from Romania and brought for the express purpose of working in this room and making an impression on anyone who he brought here. They only knew enough English to take drink orders and instructions for sexual favours, meaning he could talk freely in front of them without fear of them repeating what they heard to others.

Taking a seat on one of the couches he ordered a Bloody Mary. The girls knew to make his from a special flask that actually contained blood, though it was scented so only a heightened sense of smell could tell it was blood. He waited for Kaz to order before he began to talk.

The ride had been silent and short. The Black Talon was a beautiful club. Beyond the lights and the 'scenery', the layout and materials were just right. Gentle and pleasing to the eye. The bouncers seemed to have been taken from a mold. Every one of them was large and thick like walking trees. Kaz couldn't help but roll his eyes at each and every one of them. He followed Hunter silently up the stairs and into the large glass room. Kaz wasn't surprised to see the near naked beauties. A man like Hunter, he had expected it. Another tally for the predictability.

Taking a seat he watched one of the women give hunter what looked like a Bloody Mary. Kaz noticed something. Blood. Kaz looked at Hunter and himself again briefly then dismissed it. They were both bleeding after all. "Whiskey on the rocks." Kaz said when one of the women sat on his lap. Kaz looked her dead in the eyes. Her back stiffened slightly as she got up to make his drink. Looking at Hunter he raised his eyebrow and indicated towards the women. "Personal use?"

Hunter smiled at Kaz’s reaction to the women. Some how he had doubted that he’d be as affected by them as most men were. Speaking in Romanian he told the girls to simply serve him drinks, there other “talent” would not be required tonight.

“I’ve enjoyed the pleasure of them,” Hunter stated frankly, “and so may you if you wish, but they shall not make any further advances tonight.”

Sipping he drink, relishing the taste, he looked Kaz dead in the eye and said, “I am looking to hire you for a few reasons. Firstly, you’re a mutant, and a strong one at that. Secondly, you’re smart, you’re current financial standing, even with a little boost from me, if a testament to that.”

“Now for the details. I am a very powerful man, as you have probably already gathered. I did not become so by playing by the rules. With the rule makers becoming more vigilant in enforcing them I need to become more creative in bypassing them.”

“I have formed a strike team of mutants known as the Kabal. I would like you to become a member of that strike group. They’re job is to retrieve items for me that are inaccessible by alternative means.”

“In return, I can offer you one of two things. A salary with lots of noughts, but I doubt that would appeal to you. Or I can offer my support in any personal venture of you’re own, whatever that may be.” With his offer made Hunter took another sip of his drink and waited for Kaz’s response.

Kaz listened to Hunter speak, rolling the words around in his head. The man complimented him. Normally he'd have thought it just flattery to get what he wanted, and of course that's what it was, but he was also speaking the truth of what he thought. The woman who Kaz had glared at returned and handed him the drink, then bowed slightly and moved away. Kaz paid the woman no mind. When Hunter said they wouldn't be making any more advances towards him, Kaz simply shrugged, indicating he didn't really care.

"Are you really a man." His words were not a question, but a statement. In their duel, there was something off about it the entire time. Hunter also knew Kaz was a mutant, and the basics of Kaz's abilities, so it was curious he would fight with Kaz, especially with true blades, without someone knowing he could survive if Kaz didn't hold back.

"You're offering a job, you want me to work with, sorry, FOR, you, correct." Again he didn't question. "I'd like to know what your plans are. What your ultimate goal is. And what sort of things are we talking about. What can't you get though normal means?" Hunter would realize Kaz didn't say anything about breaking the rules.

The money really didn't interest him. "Before I give my answer or what I'd ask for in return. I need my questions answered." Kaz took a few slow sips of his drink. He could feel the burn down his throat. Though he knew it would never do anything to him.

Hunter smiled and too a long sip of his drink before answering. “I am a man, but more so. I am also a mutant. My strength and speed are far above that of any normal humans. Also my senses are sharper as well.”

“Finally I am immortal. I have lived for over four hundred years.” He paused to let that sink in before continuing, “However, what I have told you is not public knowledge and I intend for it to remain that way.”

“As for your second question, my goal has been what every great mans goal has been throughout the ages. Power. I seek to become the most powerful person on the planet. My reason? Because I have watched others in power for centuries and seen almost all fail. Only I have sufficient experience to correctly wield such power.”

This was in fact a lie, his quest for power was nothing more than a way to pass the time. Once he attained more power than anyone else he would walk away, leaving it all and start again anew.

However, hunter had been lying for most of his life and it was effortless to make his deceptions seem real, especially when sprinkled with grains to truth. He had seen leaders come and go and had seen them misuse their powers. Also he was right, he was the only person with sufficient experience to wield such power.

“Finally, as for the items that I cannot gain through normal means, I mean objects of great technological worth that have been deemed too valuable or too dangerous to be allowed into the wrong hands. On occasion I will also mean people, to utilise their talents, extract information or prevent others from doing so.”

He had, near enough, answered all of Kaz’s questions truthfully. Now he waited for Kaz’s answer.

“Finally I am immortal. I have lived for over four hundred years.”

"That explains a lot. You don't even look 25, no one that young could use a sword as well as you did." There was no sarcasm, no patronizing tone, and no complimentary tone either. "It felt, wrong, off. Now I do know you were holding back. It was fun though, none the less." Kaz took a sip of his drink. Holding the glass out in front of him, he looked into the caramel colored liquid, the surface just barely moving as a small air bubble floated to the top, escaping from it's icy prison.

"......I intend for it to remain that way." Kaz looked up at Hunter and thought to speak, but held his tongue, letting the man finish. When he did Kaz spoke. "I don't see a reason it would ever become public knowledge. If I'm not crossed, I don't see there ever will be a reason." Kaz held up his glass in Hunter's direction. Basically indicating the deal was good.

Looking Hunter in the eye for a long moment before he spoke again. "I'll not be a pawn or a toy mind you. Nor a slave of any kind. I'll not suffer being left in the dark." Chuckling slightly and softly. "I don't expect everything to be revealed to me, but if I ask a question, I will have an answer." Kaz was again not asking question, but stating his terms as he once again looked into the liquid of his drink.

"I've suffered that before, and never again." He looked at Hunter again, to make sure he knew Kaz was serious. "I'm sure in your 400 years, you've seen what happens when someone is overlooked, treated as less than they are, and taken advantage of by those in power."

Huter listened to Kaz’s terms, and found them to be acceptable. He did not wish to cross Kaz, but if he ever did he would make sure Kaz ended up dead. Hunter didn’t work with pawns or toys, but instead with individuals who utilised their own strengths to achieve a goal. Slaves weren’t half as good, they needed constant direction.

As for keeping in the dark, there were some things that Hunter had no intention of revealing. However, if he was on the whole open then his lies would be more convincing as they would fit in with the truth as opposed to a web of deception.

“Agreed, you would be a valued employee as opposed an unwilling slave. Also you would be kept in the loop, as you can make better decisions in the field if you have all the information,” Hunter took another sip of his drink before concluding, “So, what is it you would want in return?”

“So, what is it you would want in return?”

Kaz let a full smirking smile play onto his face, his eyes narrowed slightly. Finishing off his drink, "What else," Kaz gripped his glass hard enough it cracked, then shattered in his hand, "Power." The look he gave Hunter easily said what he was thinking: 'You understand that better than anyone, I don't have to explain.'

"From what you've said, I assume there's no registration or mundane thing like that. I'm sure there's more here than you giving a 'sales pitch' and me biting."

Hunter pulled an expensive looking watch out of his pocket and tossed it over to Kaz. “That watch is how I will keep in contact with you. It’ll vibrate when I want to talk to you and either play a pre-recorded message or open a direct encrypted communication link with me.”

Pulling out a flat palm scanner he continued, “The facility I am currently using as a base is Mondragon labs. It is located an hours drive outside New York. By placing your hand on this scanner you will be given the highest level of clearance in the lab except for myself.”

“I have a few personal projects that are for my eye’s only, but other than that you will have complete acess.” He now waited for Kaz ro place his hand on the scanner.

Kaz caught the watch mid flight. He moved the watch around his finger, looking at the band and the face as well as the back. Raising an eyebrow at it as he listened to Hunter. The watch wasn't really his style, but he could deal with it. Setting it on his wrist, he clasped it, holding it in place.

"Mondragon Labs. Can't say I've ever heard of it. Whether that's good or bad, I'm not sure yet." Kaz chuckled as he leaned forward setting his hand on the scanner. "By personal projects you mean, 'If I found out you'd have to kill me.' or 'You don't want to know.' kind of projects?" With the second option he looked at the women in the room again then back to Hunter.

Hunter smiled at Kaz’s question, “A bit of both,” he answered honestly. He didn’t want Kaz to know about his blood absorption ability, but if he found out about the wood allergy he would have to kill him.

Saying something in Romanian one of the girls went over to a draw and pulled out a map. She handed it to Kaz before stepping back. “Always approach the lab from the front and enter through the main entrance. Anyone not doing so is treated as hostile and met with extreme force.”

He didn’t say it as a threat, but merely stated the policy that the guards employed at his direction. Hunter took back the scanner and handed it to another girl who returned it to the draw.

Kaz laughed at Hunter's honesty and wording. The man was letting Kaz's mind fill in the blanks. Kaz took the map from the woman, she was attractive, and as Hunter said, didn't make any advances towards him. None of them had and Kaz was glad for that. He didn't want to have to break one of their pretty faces. Kaz nodded to Hunter when he spoke of the entrance policy. "That works I suppose. I hope you have someone who can take my car. I won't the excess time going to a parking area and then back to the front just to go through the main entrance."

Kaz felt his stomach rumble slightly, though not audibly yet. Mumbling, "Stupid metabolism." Looking to Hunter. "If business is concluded, I'd like to eat." Kaz stood up, though he didn't move to leave. When a guest in a host's residence or establishment, especially during matters of business, it's respectful and courteous to get the host's permission to leave, or have them accompany you to the door or move onto other matters. At least this is what Kaz thought and it seemed to apply to Hunter. A man of stature and years of experience in these matters.

“Of course,” said Hunter, “you car will be parked in the vehicle bat by one of the staff and returned to you when you require it.” He rose with Kaz and extended a hand to him.

“It was a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I think my first act will be to transfer complete control of Atlas Munitions to you as a token of gratitude for offering my use of you talents.”

“There is a restaurant not far from here, the Noir. I own it and it’s a five star establishment. Please, feel free to have a meal there, on the house.” He would phone ahead and let the staff know Kaz was coming.

"If they scratch any of my babies, I'll kill them." Kaz's face was impassive as he commented about the cars. "Hope you don't mind." Kaz smirked at Hunter as he shook his hand and was quite surprised when he said he'd transfer full control of Atlas to him. "Thank you. I wish I could say the same, but I just met you today." Kaz laughed a bit. "I didn't expect to have as much fun today as I have, nor get a business proposition." His stomach audibly grumbled this time when Hunter mentioned Noir. He had heard of it, but never been to it as it wasn't really his style, but he wouldn't pass up the offer. "Thank you. I hope the food's as good as I've heard." Kaz headed out of the room, heading straight to the restaurant, intending to have at least three full course meals.

Hunter smiled as Kaz left. The transfer of Atlas Munitions into Kaz’s complete control seemed to have caught the boy by surprise, but it was of no great loss to Hunter. With a few phone calls he could make a few other investments that promised to be at least as profitable if not more so.

After Kaz left Hunter went to the limo and headed out. It was about time he got a meal of his own, but he preferred to catch his food fresh.