Inside of the Lusty Stag, one of the most reviled nightclubs in all of Halifax, Leo sits upon an old viking throne brought in from Sweden. At one time, the place might have been host to the elite of Halifax and beyond. Played host to the celebrities of Hollywood. Now, it serves as a repository of the dregs of society. Men and women on their last legs, looking for a cheap drink special, quick fix, or company for the night. The throne itself has seen better days. It’s covered in a variety of stains from bodily fluids to different boozes.
Leo sits on the throne with scantily clad women on either side of him. He’s dressed like he raided the Hot Topic before he arrived, despite the fact that he also looks twenty years too old for Hot Topic ware. He rings a bell and a scantily clad waitress rushes to take the drink order for him and his hoes.
Esmeralda von Krauss walks into the building, looking like a dream goddess in an orange dress that has cloudlike qualities to it. However, her left arm is in a dark red sling that makes it stand out from the rest of her ensemble. She grins, all eyes on her as she walks through the building to the stairs to walk up to see Leo on his throne of decadence.
She stands before Leo, getting her light orange foot long cigarette holder before using her one hand to get out an Egyptian cigarette to put into it. A random bargoer comes forward to light the cigarette for her. She takes a long drag from it, smiling at the random guy.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Thanks, dahling. Now scram. I need to have a word with Leo here.
Leo just looks at Esmeralda with an amused expression.
Leo: You know my name, my dear. I also know of you, Esmeralda von Krauss. You know what you seek is not here and that I will not help you along your quest. It is time that you said goodbye to “your girls” and helped us track the ones you released into the wild. That is, if you know what’s good for you.
Esmeralda gives Leo a sideways glance, her grin going cold.
Esmeralda von Krauss: If you know who I am, you will know what I will do to regain my Valkyries. I will rip away your eyelids so that you cannot close your eyes to look away while I take you apart a piece at a time…dahling.
Leo shakes his head, pressing a red button on his throne that begins to glow red.
Leo: You only have one arm. I have security waiting on me, hand and foot.
Precious moments go by, but no security come to Leo’s aid. He begins to look nervous at the supreme look of confidence on Esmeralda’s face as she simply flicks ashes onto the floor.
Esmeralda von Krauss: My, my. Leo, where are your security guards? They should be here by now, should they not? Couldn't it be that maybe something has happened to them? Would you like to tell me now where my Valkyries might be? I am certain that they are with Madame Lussier herself. Where might I find her?
Leo looks high and low for where his security guards might be. The bouncer stations that he has scattered around the club are notably empty. He presses the button a few more times.
Leo: Sometimes their pagers don’t always get the signal for them to come to me. You’ll just have to wait a moment to get escorted off of the premises. Please?
This is when Minerva, D, and Steve Awesome show up at Esmeralda’s side. Still no security. Esmeralda raises an eyebrow at the sight of blood dripping off of Minerva’s right hand, but casts her attention back to Leo.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Dahling, it must be a sign when your customers don’t seem to give two damns when your security guards are all laid low. You have no back up. Tell me where my Valkyries are or tell me where to find Madame Lussier.
Realization of what’s going on seems to hit Leo all at once and he begins to look fearful, though of Esmeralda and her crew or of Madame Lussier is hard to say.
Leo: You don’t know the horrible things that she will do to me! She eats her kids that turn out to be boys for crying out loud! Please…just…kill me.
Esmeralda’s gaze turns stern, keeping her eyes trained on the squirming Leo as she flicks more ashes onto the floor.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Steve, as we discussed.
Steve Awesome: Right away, Ese.
Steve walks up to the much smaller Leo and grabs him up into a gorilla press slam position. He carries the man over to the balcony overlooking the first floor and the entrance to the nightclub. Steve changes his grip so that he’s holding Leo upside down by one ankle.
Esmeralda von Krauss: Dahling, you might survive the fall. What will you do when your enemies know that you are unable to walk? Where will your kingdom go then?
Steve chuckles as he lets Leo slip a couple of inches before regaining his grip on Leo’s leg. Leo screams in fright, bringing all eyes in the club onto him.
Leo: Lemme go! Lemme go! I don’t know where your Valkyries are!
Steve Awesome: Let you go? Sure.
Leo: WAIT! Don’t let me go! Your girls are with Madame Lussier and are being held captive until they agree to be her security.
Esmeralda von Krauss: And Madame Lussier is…where?
Leo: She’s at a warehouse at Sheet Harbor. I’ll give you the address if you bring me back up! I swear!
Esmeralda von Krauss: Bring him back up, dahling.
Steve pulls Leo up and places him onto the floor where Leo falls down into a seated position by the railing to ensure that he doesn’t fall over them to the first floor.
Leo: Near Church Point Road in Sheet Harbor. Big grey warehouse. You can’t miss it! Please don’t hurt me!
Esmeralda flicks ashes onto the man before pulling out the cigarette butt from the holder to flick it against him. Leo flinches as the cigarette butt explodes into a shower of sparks.
Esmeralda von Krauss: I won’t hurt you, dahling.
Leo sighs with relief and begins to stand up.
Esmeralda von krauss: Minerva will do it for me.
Leo: What?
Minerva grabs Leo by the front of the shirt and casually tosses him over the balcony railing where he lands onto his back on a table below. The table legs give way and the table goes flat onto the floor. Leo just squeaks, the wind knocked from him.
Esmeralda looks down at the scene as she slides her foot long holder back into her sling.
Esmeralda von Krauss: No permanent injury, I hope. At least, not inflicted by me. Come, crew. Let’s finish this in Sheet Harbor.
Esmeralda walks to the stairs with her crew not far behind him. As they exit, a man enters through the door to the kitchen. It is Skokusi. He walks over to where Leo is still laying on the floor. Leo coughs blood up into the air that immediately falls back onto his face. He sees Skokusi and looks afraid, but tries his very best to hide it.
Leo: Hey, Skokusi. Funny seeing you here. I fell from the balcony again. Must have been too much drink.
Skokusi: I watched you betray Madame Lussier. Now I must hurry to be able to greet them in person. Oh, have you failed her, Leo. What are we going to do with you?
Leo: Maybe a light spanking? Wait!
With a swift motion, Skokusi draws his gun and shoots Leo in the face, sending blood, bone, and brain splattering across the table and floor. People turn to watch the execution with curiosity for a few seconds before going back to what they were doing. Skokusi puts the gunn away and gets out his phone.
Skokusi: Esmeralda is coming to you. I will be with you soon, mother.