Then he noticed how the guy in purple was staring at him WAY intensely from behind his mask while his body twitched and fidgeted oddly, as if he was doing his best to stay still. Maybe he wasn't that normal after all. Masking his growing agitation rather well Mr. E raised a glass to the two newcomers while giving a silent nod of approval to Vincent, as if to say "I love the all white look."
"Hey! Hey, Mr. E? Can I keep her? I promise I'll feed her and pet her and play with her, and take really good care of her! So can I? Pleeeeeeaaaaaseeee~?"
The voice of Mania sounded in Mr. E's ear, growing more and more annoying by the minute. Like always though he simply smiled towards the woman. Quickly he responded in his gruff yet somehow friendly voice "I think that is something you two will have to discuss over yourselves."
Before Mistress Mania could respond (and boy what a fitting name, E thought) with yet another one of her insane questions the newcomer, who Mr. E was pretty sure was Dr. Grav or something, asked his own question. "So, what's going on here?" He asked between bites of bread.
Before he could respond to Dr. Grav he was interrupted by the first arrival, the one in the black and white striped costume known as Stretch.
---
Stretch had watched in amusement as the seats around him began to fill, from the strange crying cat woman (who couldn't be a real cat, right?), to the...intense looking man in purple, and then there was also the nonchalant quite one who had simply strolled in and sat down without a word. A few alarm bells rang in his head as he stared at the all white wearing Vincent, having learned along time ago it was the real quite one's you had to look out for. Sure, people like Mania were probably just as likely to blow you up or kill you in some overly elaborate fashion-but it was the quite ones who would stab you in the back on purpose.
He watched in particular interest as Mania practically tackled the Cat girl while talking about her and crooning over her like she was an actual pet. He was about to say something to try and help the poor Ayla out, but then he remembered he was a villain and other peoples feelings didn't matter. So instead he turned his attention back to the recently named Mr. E, who had just been asked the same question Stretch had been wondering this whole time. "Yeah, what the purple bandit said." he asked following up Dr. Grav's question.
---
Mr. E had to keep himself from losing his cool. The combination of all the questions, constant interruptions, late arrivals, and Mania just being herself in general had put him on the edge of losing his patience. One deep controlled breath later though and he had regained his declining composure.
In one fluid motion he pushed his chair back, stood to his full height of eight feet and something inches, and began circling the table like a shark. His hand still clutched the same wine glass he'd been sipping from, stirring it lazily as he walked around his guests. From the way he stared at the dark red wine it was clear he was far more interested the contents of the glass then he was in his new found company.
"Well, I'm sure you have all heard of the particular organization I represent here tonight. The Midnight Society" He paused and took a sip from his glass as he let his words sink over the room before continuing. "Once every few years we at the Society seek out and recruit new talents to bring into the organization. And it just so happens that you lucky few have caught our eye. That being said we cant just recruit people based off of what we have heard, we need to witness your abilities for ourselves. Which brings me to your first group assignment." Having made his way all the way around the table and back to his seat he sat back down, his massive frame settling back into his chair with a loud creek. Pressing an unseen button somewhere on his chair the whole left wall of the room slid open, revealing the largest monitor anyone in the room had likely ever seen. Another button press and the monitor flicked to life, a three dimensional layout of some unknown building popping up on screen.
"The job itself is simple. Infiltrate the building, steal Blue Tessla's new energy prototype, and then leave an explosive little surprise on your way out." Mr. E finished his explanation at the exact same time he finished his glass of wine-honestly he couldn't have timed it better. "Think of it as a test of your loyalty."
---
Stretch almost choked on the piece of cake he'd been eating while listening to Mr. E. He wanted them to steal from Blue Tessla? THE Blue Tessla, Lord of Lightning and part time dabbler in crazy ass doomsday inventions? Talk about one hell of a "test".