WELCOME TO OBLIVION

The vortex opens up and Helena hasn't a clue where he's taken them. In fact, they could be anywhere. Any time. Any place. Or possibly even nowhere at all.

Looking around her, she takes in the vast nothingness around them. Just miles upon miles of cracked dry earth and a sky just as dismal. A brown, empty wasteland. Endless and reaching forever. Off into infinity. And she just let him lead her blindly. Stupidly. She relinquished control and allowed him to take her away to god knows where. No promise of when or IF they'd be returning. Hell... It could very well be a trap. And yet deep down she knows he wouldn't do such a thing to her. She knows she can trust him. Even though she shouldn't and she hates herself for it.

The swirling red disperses, and with it, Klarion's eyes return to their previous obsidian. He let's go if her hands to fix his tie. This is just a typical occurrence for him. Completely commonplace. Helena, however... Her knees shake something fierce, to the point of nearly buckling. She reaches out to grab hold of Klarion's arm to keep herself from falling. She'd teleported with him before, but THAT... That was something else.

"That wasn't teleporting." Helena thinks out loud, trying to keep her morning coffee from coming back up.

"Nope." Klarion simply replies. "That was a portal."

She looks up at him, her face a bit white.

"Difference?"

Klarion scratches his chin, as if stroking invisible stubble. Explaining such things to mortals is never very easy.

"Well... Teleporting takes you from point A to point B. Whereas a portal takes you from point A to point 2. Understand?"

Judging by the cryptic look on her face, he can clearly tell she doesn't.

"Teleporting helps you travel within the same space. Say, from here to across the room." He tries to explain further. "While a portal moves you to the spaces beyond and between. Different dimensions and realms. Points of existence and such."

Helena slowly nods her head, though her face is still quite confused.

"You see, when-"

She holds a hand up close to his face, quieting him instantly.

"Whatever. Just... Just say cuz MAGIC."

A smile spreads wide across Klarion's face. He abruptly throws his hands up in the air and shouts enthusiastically.

"TA-DA! MAGIC!"

Helena laughs, grabbing one of his raised arms and pulling it back down towards her so she can link arms with him again. He laughs along with her, joining in her entertainment.

"Sooo... We're in another dimension?" She asks.

"Mmm... More or less."

"And you knew we'd be able to travel here even though I'm wearing the cross?"

Klarion shrugs, pretending as if it's no big deal. Acting completely self-satisfied with his own abilities and needing to brag about it. To show off for her. He's trying his best to impress her with his skill of sorcery.

"Well, since teleporting moves YOU, and a portal moves the space AROUND you, I figured we'd be fine."

"And if you figured wrong?"

"We'd create a tear in the fabric of reality, thus dooming life as we know it."

Helena stares at him blankly, searching his face for any sign of deception. To see if he's joking. Though, it would appear he most certainly is not. And that should terrify her, but it doesn't. For whatever reason, she finds it absolutely hilarious. The thought of possibly erasing all of existence, destroying countless lives and every world there ever was or ever will be, all for the sake of a lunch date. That's SO like him.

The corner of Klarion's mouth turns up into a lopsided grin, watching as she laughs. Enjoying her enjoyment. He shares in her laughter. Reviling in it. Absolutely enthralled that she's having fun. That she's taking delight in being with him. Happy to be in his company. It's just like old times.

Having such a good time, he'd almost forgotten.

"Oh! Before we go in, you may want to change into your mask. That is if you value your secret identity. I know with Catgirl, you didn't seem to mind. But now being a Wayne..."

Helena takes a look around, trying to figure out what he means by 'in'. There's nothing around them. Clearly no building in which to go IN to. Still, she humors him. Like the time they'd walked through the woods of Limbo Town to get to his own special little place, secretly cut off from the rest of the world. She'd almost forgotten that memory...

There's just no arguing when magic's involved. For all she knows, there could be something in front of them which he can see and she most definitely cannot.

"Is this a 'heroes only' kinda place?"

"Not exactly."

"Villain?"

"Nnnnnnnnnnooo..."

Her brow furrows. He isn't exactly offering up any clues. And it's making her anxious.

"Where are we?"

"Just change."

"But I didn't bring-"

Klarion shakes his head back and forth.

"No no, you misunderstand me." He cuts in. "I'll put up a perception filter. All you need do is THINK of your costume and all will see you as you perceive yourself to be, which would be your alter persona if you so desire." That sly, flirty grin returns. He wiggles an eyebrow. "Or something a bit more comfortable if you wish."

Helena narrows her eyes on him.

"You're NOT going in my head." She warns.

"And I couldn't even if I tried all thanks to that ward." Klarion defends, pointing to her cross. "It's a simple glamour trick, ok? Completely noninvasive. It works AROUND your physical form. Much like a mirage. No head tricks. Promise. Ok?"

Helena stares up at him, eyebrow arched. She doesn't like this. Not. One. Bit.

The amount of control she's allowed him to have over her. The amount of MAGIC she's allowed him to use on her. What's the point of a ward against his tricks if he seems to find ways around it? Loopholes in the system. Still, she knows he wouldn't harm her. And she knows it's all in her best interest because he's absolutely right.

As Catgirl, she didn't care who knew about her identity because it was all a fake. A façade. But as Helena Wayne, she's playing it close to the chest. Playing for keeps. All nine lives have been spent and she's down to her last one. It isn't exactly wise to go around advertising where it is you sleep at night and allowing wolves to your door. Especially when she doesn't even know where it is he's taken her. Or what sort of company he keeps. That's always been part of his charm, she supposes. He's bad at being good and good at being bad. There's just no telling with him.

"Ok." Helena reluctantly agrees. She's still skeptical, but accepts.

"Very well then."

Klarion snaps his fingers and Helena thinks hard. The rest happens instantaneously. No smoke or mirrors. No swirling red mist. Just suddenly she's wearing other clothes. Or at least she appears to be.

It's the strangest thing. She KNOWS she's still wearing tailored slacks and a form-fitted lilac blouse, but looking down, she sees something else entirely. Slick black leather, fitted to her body like a second skin. Enveloping her in an inky, black shadow of a specially patented Kevlar weave. Light-weight and slinky, but could withstand an armor-piercing round from point-blank. It's something she had to learn the hard way, as is always the case. Having been shot once and lost her life because of it, it's not exactly something she would like to do again.

As with the Kevlar, something else she'd never needed as the Catgirl is a cape. Long and flowing. Black and violet. She'd never had use for one before, but has quickly come to learn there's a reason why her father wears one when he goes out at night. And after taking a couple spills of her own, had decided to add one to the uniform. It does have its uses.

And of course no outfit is complete without a sexy pair of thigh-high boots. Not to mention the big, white cross plastered wide across her chest. The insignia of the Huntress. Only adding extra emphasis to the fact that she most certainly takes after her mother. Meaning she is VERY well endowed.

Surprisingly though, that's NOT what has captivated the forlorn Warlock's attention. His eyes rest upon her cowl. A certain shade of purple. Where pink meets blue. And of course, those two pointy ears.

Now, if he or anyone else were to ask her, surely she'd say the points are to emulate her father's. The sign of the Bat. Yet he sees it as something else entirely. Subconsciously, Klarion runs a hand through his hair. Raking across two devilish spikes of his own.

With a catcall of a whistle, his eyes continue downward, following her curves. Feasting on her, up and down and up again. Acting the wolf, but she's no lamb. Quite formidable, indeed.

Suffice to say, she's got him excited. Aroused even. He shoves his hands in his front pockets to keep his protrusion from showing.

"Don't start." The Huntress growls, well aware of the hungry way he's looking at her.

"WHAT!?" Klarion defends with a sly grin. "I can't appreciate a work of art? You really are quite breathtaking." Teekl meows something in the witches ear, to which he responds, "Hn. Right. Of course. And as for me..."

With the snap of his fingers, he too transforms. Not that he has a secret identity to conceal, but he's not one to be left out.

His suit jacket lengthens, skirting low to his mid-thigh. It sprouts a pair of tails, coming to a point at not only the front, but back as well. His sleeves flare out, covering most of his hands. And much like the tails, they too meet at a long, sharp point.

Peeking through, a red inner lining. Bold and vibrant against his monochromatic attire. The cherry on top.

Slim, fitted and certainly foxy. He looks elegant. Much like his normal day to day wear, but much edgier to say the least.

"Nice." Huntress purrs.

Klarion pouts.

"Nice? That's it?" He whines. "I liken you to a work of art and all you can say is NICE. Really... How utterly unfair."

Helena laughs and grabs hold of the downtrodden Warlock's arm. Reminding him exactly why they've come all the way out here to the middle of nowhere in the first place.

"So we gonna eat, or what?"

Klarion sighs deeply.

"Yes... I suppose."

The wave of his hand and suddenly a door appears from out of nowhere. No building attached, just a door. And not even a very impressive looking one at that. Together, they approach and Klarion knocks three times. From the other end, Helena can hear someone ask for the password, to which Klarion just rolls his eyes.

"Abra Kadabra is the greatest ma... You know what, NO." The witch groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "A man your age... Ugh... Look... l know for a fact you wear silk skivvies. There's just no way I'm calling you the greatest magician alive. I just can't take you seriously and DEMAND we change the password."

The door opens, much to the chagrin of one very perturbed doorman.

"Ass." Abra Kadabra grumbles as the pair and their cat step inside.

The Huntress holds onto the Warlock's arm tight. Tight to the point of nearly cutting off all circulation to his hand. If his fingers could possibly get any bluer, they very well would at this particular moment. She's overly excited. Almost hopping up and down as they enter this completely out-of-the-way, other dimension, very special place that she just HAD to get all dressed up in her uniform for. Her imagination runs wild. The curious cat in her is simply DYING to know. Just where the hell are they? Eyes wide, she has her answer.

A bar.

Sure, it's a fairly nice looking bar. But it's JUST a bar. Nothing fancy or special or crazy about it at all.

Helena's heart sinks. Her shoulders slump, and with them, her grip loosens around his arm. Maybe she shouldn't have set her expectations so high, but she's completely let down. Klarion had made it seem like such a big deal.

"It's... a bar..." Huntress tries to mask her upset tone. It isn't working. She both sounds and looks like someone's kicked her cat.

Klarion's in his glory. Beaming so wide to the point of nearly bursting. He wonders if he should tell her now or let her stew a little longer. The suspense is killing him. He bites his bottom lip to keep from giggling or possibly spoiling the surprise. After the longest two seconds of his life, he finally relents. He just HAS to tell her.

"It's not just ANY bar, Kitty. Remember, looks can be deceiving." Reclaiming her arm in his, Klarion pulls her in closer. Close enough to purr into her ear. "Welcome to the Oblivion Bar, my dear. The only known universe with its very own Happy Hour."

Yes, the Oblivion Bar DOES exist in the DC Universe. No, I'm not too familiar with it, so I hope I do it justice! You'll just have to wait and see!
A couple YJ easter eggs. Klarion's suit should be familiar to you. Also Abra's choice in undies... LOL