A Weekend Affair # 1 - The Great White Reception

[Pathfinder]

Hellfire - Aquarius

Zach: "Princess...I'd rather love you.."

"Mmm..empaths and their WORDS..."

< He unzipped her dress, his hands delicately tracing the length of her spine, as she felt her breath become heavy and baited. He was voracious, and strong, with such a well of passion inside of him that in this moment, she realized that he was the only man capable of truly satisfying her, truly leaving her spent. >

"Fuck first. Love later."

< He kissed her with wild abandon, as their hands melded together as one to unzip Zach's pants as she feverishly pulled them down to his knees with ease. She had been in these types of situations before. She was a professional. >

Zach: "Here, exhibited where they all can see...you should be adored.."

< She gathered his hair in her hands, yanking it down with force, causing his neck to crane back as she got a better look at his thick and muscular neck, licking the length of it with her tongue, before slipping her hand beneath her dress, grabbing hold of Zach's member gripping it with her hand, the cold metal of her rings teasing him as squeezed a hold of him tight. >

"Adore me, Zach..."

< He kissed her breasts as goosebumps formed on her arms and chest, his passion pulsating through his body as she let herself experience the full energy of his power. >

Zach: "You should be envied..."

"More so than they already do.."

< She felt his fingers trace the outline of her lace panties, as she gasped in ecstacy. >

Erika: "Erika...you should be exalted..."

< Before either of them even realized, Zach was inside of her, expanding his manhood into her in such a natural and primal way that it left them both surprised. Their bodies craved one another, every touch, every lick and scratch a beautiful buildup to the rising arousal between them. >

"And you Zach...should be worshipped..."

< She flexed her womanhood around him, gripping him with her hips as she placed his hands around her ass, feeling him grip her tightly as she began to ride. Goddamn he felt good. Felt right. >

"Now let us pray..."

 

[Persephone]

She couldn't believe that after she opened herself up to him downstairs he had the audacity to follow her back upstairs, insert himself into her business, and kill Maxim as if SHE couldn't have handled the situation herself. It was no secret John wanted Maxim gone and was waiting for the perfect excuse to do it, but to Ava it was as if John was kicking her while she was down. She stormed into her room, calling for the cleaners before ripping the bracelet off her wrist and throwing it across the room. She heard John stomp in behind her, slamming the door shut.

"GET OUT."

John: "YOU don't have to deal with ANYTHING! People will come and clean up after your messes, just like they ALWAYS do!"

Ava scoffed, turning to look at John with an incredulous look.

"Excuse me?"

John: "You know WHAT, Ava?"

Ava's eyebrows went up at the tone in which he said her name. He wasn't just walking a fine line, he had crossed it and destroyed it as he did so.

John: "SOME OF US have to live in the REAL WORLD, and not some fantasy land where you just get to have everything you want at the exact moment you want it!"

Then Ava just laughed sardonically because what he said was absolutely ridiculous.

"Everything I want? You are so FUCKING oblivious! If I got everything I wanted John, Maxim would never have been an ISSUE just now! How DARE YOU! You KNOW how hard i've worked to get to where I am! You act as if this was given to me on a silver FUCKING platter! Víaii, sklirí, skýla! [Arrogant, headstrong, son of a bitch!]"

Ava threw her hands up resorting to Greek when she was so frustrated she couldn't be bothered to speak in English. But he still couldn't see any of it, or refused to. And now he was acting like everyone else, thinking because she was a Cassadine she got whatever she wanted. That was him throwing salt into her already opened wound.

John: "JESUS, Ava - you invited a flatscan to a HELLFIRE party! And you expected me to just stand by and let you wreck yourself?! My JOB is to protect you, not let you DESTROY yourself!"

"Wreck myself? He worked for Hellfire, John! He was a mercenary, for God sakes! It's not like I picked him up off the street! And I REALLY FUCKING RESENT you for saying that i'm trying to destroy myself! How fucking dare you!"

Ava snapped, a low growl reverberating from her already deep voice.

John: "My JOB is to protect you, not let you DESTROY yourself! And I was supposed to, what, let him FORCE himself on you?!"

"He was a FLATSCAN! I could have killed him with the snap of my fingers, so cut the bullshit! You pulled him off me because you didn't want him FUCKING me. You didn't want his HANDS on me. ME, NOT YOUR QUEEN, ME. [Ava got in his face] But you don't get to care about me, John. Not when you're too much of a PUSSY to step up and say what you really feel!"

Ava pushed his chest hard making him take a step back toward her chamber room door, her eyes filled with tears of frustration and fury. He needed to leave before she did something in anger that she would truly regret.

"Now GET OUT!"

 

[Steel]

The Black Queen's Room

"GET OUT."

He didn't understand what her problem was. He had done his fucking job, which was, as a Rook, to protect her, and as her friend, to keep her from making bad decisions. He had done BOTH and now she was screaming at him because he didn't want to USE her the way MAXIM just had?

All thoughts of his duty and the chasm between their relative social positions melted into thin air. This was John and Ava, and he was going to tell her about herself. She was screaming at him about HER having to clean up HIS mess. When an entire team of people - who had already been put to work once today - were on their way to take care of EVERYTHING. And just because she wanted him for one second that afternoon, didn't mean she should have had him.

"Everything I want? You are so FUCKING oblivious! If I got everything I wanted John, Maxim would never have been an ISSUE just now! How DARE YOU! You KNOW how hard i've worked to get to where I am! You act as if this was given to me on a silver FUCKING platter! Víaii, sklirí, skýla! [Arrogant, headstrong, son of a bitch!]"

"Well then WHY are you trying so damn hard to throw it all away?! Can't you see I'm TRYING TO HELP YOU!"

And then he turned the topic to Maxim. Like he was supposed to watch her make a fool out of herself in front of everyone.

"Wreck myself? He worked for Hellfire, John! He was a mercenary, for God sakes! It's not like I picked him up off the street! And I REALLY FUCKING RESENT you for saying that i'm trying to destroy myself! How fucking dare you! He was a FLATSCAN! I could have killed him with the snap of my fingers, so cut the bullshit! You pulled him off me because you didn't want him FUCKING me. You didn't want his HANDS on me. ME, NOT YOUR QUEEN, ME. [Ava got in his face] But you don't get to care about me, John. Not when you're too much of a PUSSY to step up and say what you really feel! Now GET OUT!"

She pushed him backwards towards the door, but he was not done yet - and he was still angry enough to not hold his tongue while he did it.

"I GODDAMN right didn't want him FUCKING you! YOU deserve better than some scumbag with a mildly handsome face who just wants to get off so he can say he fucked a queen. You want me to say what I really feel? Huh? I feel like I've spent every day since I arrived here keeping you safe, even when you weren't my Queen. I feel like out of the two of us, I'm the only one who is thinking about KEEPING you on the throne you deserve more than anyone else here. I feel like you deserve someone by your side who is amazing as you are. I DON'T want to FUCK YOU Ava, because I FUCKING LOVE YOU."

He was breathing hard, looking into her eyes. The anger started to subside, now that he had said it, and he sank to his knees in front of her.

"I've been in love with you since the day we met. And I would be alone for the rest of my life if that meant I could be near you every day."

He bowed his head. If she wanted to kill him for his insolence, it was within her right. But he had told her everything, at last.

 

[Wallflower]

Hellfire - Aquarius

Savage: "Eloquent."

She smirked. Amanda tended to surround herself with men as verbose as she was, and her phone had a number of long standing incredibly dirty text threads, but that wasn't to say she didn't have other tastes. And while he may not have been a wordsmith, she was, and her words had a way of entrancing her prey in ways that sometimes her fangs did not.

Savage: "I wonder what inspired you to write all that..."

Amanda pursed her lips as she adjusted his collar, taking ample opportunity to gaze at the chest hair that decorated him like a badge of honor. She asked him to return the favor of soliloquy, to see if he could meet her at her measure. From the corner of her eye, she noticed The Red Queen leaving with The White Court, and across the room, she watched as Brienne dissappeared with Alek. This was not good. The EWC had been in high demand and it appeared the black and white courts had underestimated the social strategy of The Red Court. She had not seen Ava in quite some time, or Steel for that matter. Or Cassandra. Just Ben, doing what he did best, standing against a wall and watching the party pass by him. Of course.

"Why is it the one night I want to have a little fun, my court decides to drop the ball?"

The Black Knight had a decision to make. Leave this incredibly hot visage of masculinity in front of her and knock the heads together of the Black Court, or give in to her desires, and find a workable excuse for her absence later.

Savage: "Apologies again, dark Knight. It seems you've stolen my wit. I'm stuck thinking of A Savage Body. Perhaps you are, as well?"

"Ava will forgive me."

He placed his big, strong, manly hands on her hips as her snake like physiology seemed to conform to his touch, her muscles contracting to give him a preview of her capability. Placing her hands on his chest, she rubbed through his chest hair, tugging on it playfully.

"Me? Well..I'm looking at a Savage body, AJ."

She squeezed his pecs which were like two granite boulders. He felt so good, but there was still a part of her that could not leave her court be. Still, she gave AJ a soft kiss on his lips as she protuded a small part of her fang, pricking his bottom lip, although not releasing her deadly venom.

"And the view is...quite nice."

And leaving him wanting, she moved her hand from his chest and pulled out her phone, shooting a text message to Ava.

>> To Ava: "I see more red and white out here than Black, my Queen..tell me you are okay?"

There, she had done her due dilligence. If her presence was requested, she would leave, but until then?

"Would you like to go somewhere a little more private?"

She gestured over towards where the EWC had been sitting, the table noticably empty.

"Your Queen appears to be entertaining our guests, which means you'll have a few "off duty" hours..."

Amanda was playing on what she ascertained would be AJ's jealousy. If he thought Ashley was getting her nose wet, so to speak, he might take her that much more aggressively, which is what Cobra wanted.

"The nations you could conquer in such time..."

 

[Silver]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge



:: Bretta had asked Cass why her Court would be disappointed, and she had gotten lucky with the answers. ::

Cass: “I embarrassed them by wearing the wrong dress. I can’t do anything right. I’m bad at being a Princess.”

“Cass, I’m sure that’s not –“

:: Cass wasn’t done, though. ::

Cass: “I fail at everything. I don’t have a working relationship with my Queen, I don’t have any allies on the Court, though…Benjamin says that he is one.”

:: Bretta almost scoffed. She didn’t believe that for a second. ::

Cass: “He only escorted me tonight because I asked him to, and…he probably did it to make me happy but I wasn’t happy, because, because I knew that he wasn’t happy.”

:: Bretta raised her eyebrows in surprise. Did the succubus have…feelings for the brute? She’d have to question her further about this later. ::

Cass: “It’s not his fault, though. I shouldn’t have asked him. I’m radioactive, you see.” *quietly*: “People shouldn’t be around me.”

“No, Cass. This has absolutely nothing to do with you. You are the innocent one in all of this. It’s not your fault that you’ve been driven mad by a madwoman.”

:: Speak of the devil herself; there was the announcement of Kelly King’s arrival now. Bretta wrinkled her nose in distaste at the announcement. Seeing the Black Princess shudder, Bretta switched tactics and asked Cass another question. ::

“You say that you don’t have a ‘working relationship’ with your Queen. How do you mean?”

Cass: *sighing*: “Kelly…” [rolling her eyes] “…made sure of it. I wasn’t even supposed to be Princess, but she forced me into the title. When I tried to make her see reason, I got punished.”

:: Bretta reached over into Cass’ lap and took Cass’ hand in hers. ::

Cass: *flatly*: “So now here we are. Ava hates me because of that.”

:: Bretta smiled as Cass squeezed her hand, looking up into her face. ::

Cass: “I wish that I could be better for Ava. Ava is a great Queen. She treats the Rook, the Knight, and the Bishop well.”

:: Bretta widened her green eyes and smiled as one would do at a child getting into mishaps. Cass was backpedaling now. She wanted to protect Ava, though Cassadine didn’t deserve her protection at all. Also, Bretta had to wonder about the Black Princess situation. ::

Who was supposed to be Black Princess? Cobra? But that girl does not look anything like a Princess. Okay. Okay. Let’s try a different angle now.

“Cass, what is your relationship like with your Rook, John Steele?”

Cass: I don’t really have anything to do with him, to be honest. He’s a great Rook, though.”

Just not to you.

Cass: *graciously*: “He’s always looking dapper and elegant, though.”

Stop protecting these people, Cassandra!

:: Bretta bit her lip. The poor girl was so starved for attention that she was willing to put herself on the line for people who wouldn’t care about her anyway. ::

“Tell me, Cass. Since she is the only other female on your Court, how is your relationship with Amanda Soto, the Black Knight?”

 

[Berserker]

Aquarius

Alek and Archer traded "wife" stories, but Alek thought it might be worth putting up with a psychopath that looked like Brienne.

"Do I smell a wife swap in the works? I have to say, I would not protest too much."

"Ashley is not my wife. So if you can convince her to let you into her bed, please, enjoy, with my blessing."

Archer expressed hope that Alek had something fun for them to do, and Alek asked if he'd ever let him down before.

"There was that time in Poland..with the gymnast twins."

Alek raised a finger in the air.

"THAT was not my fault."

Alek assured him he had what he'd need.

"I was hoping to escape to Arklay... Drink some [i[brewskies[/i]...Shoot at shit with blood hounds at our side."

Then you'll like what I have planned for tomorrow.

Alek grinned at Arch, but then Brienne was with them and his focus went completely to her. He started to lead her off for a "tour", asking Archer if he minded as an afterthought. She linked her arm with his as he escorted her to the elevator. As they waited, she turned to him, opening the collar of his shirt a bit more so she could see his scar. Alek was used to females being interested in the marks across his chest, so it didn't bother him. Far from it, actually.

"Tell me, Alek....Did it hurt?"

She began to run her hand across her own chest, mimicking the path of his scar. But Alek could feel it on his own chest, a most amazing thing, making him gasp in in surprise.

"It hurt like a sonofabitch, and then I died."

He stepped forward, placing his hand on the small of her back, and leaning in.

"Do you like pain, your Majesty?"

The elevator doors dinged open and he stepped inside, turning back around to face her.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

 

[Persephone]

John: "Well then WHY are you trying so damn hard to throw it all away?! Can't you see I'm TRYING TO HELP YOU!"

"Can't you see you're HURTING ME!"

Ava screamed back in defiance, finally admitting that everything he was doing was destroying her inside. He was truly a phenomenal Rook: loyal, fearless, and committed. But above all else he was her friend, and he had been her friend for over a decade before Ava became Queen. As their friendship progressed Ava fell in love with him, but in the beginning she thought of it as a deep love one felt for a close friend. She dated and slept with other men, but never truly gave her heart to anyone. And she didn't realize until recently why. She didn't trust anyone the way she trusted John. She didn't love anyone the way she loved John. But she kept things professional once becoming Queen, not wanting to blur the line. But now that it had been over a year, she wanted him by her side as more than just a Rook. She had the power now. She had the status. But she didn't have everything she wanted, and she resented that he assumed as much.

John threw Bishop in her face so she spat back with just as much venom. She was done sugar coating the situation for him and tip toeing around the truth. Ava called him out to his face, telling him he couldn't have it BOTH ways. She was DONE with his back and forth and forcefully pushed him back, tears in her eyes as she screamed at him to get out.

John: "I GODDAMN right didn't want him FUCKING you! YOU deserve better than some scumbag with a mildly handsome face who just wants to get off so he can say he fucked a queen."

"As opposed to an asshole who TOYS with me and refuses to tell me to my FACE what he really feels?!"

She pushed him back again, needing to hurt him because he was hurting her. But then, he surprised her, finally getting to his breaking point.

John: "You want me to say what I really feel? Huh? I feel like I've spent every day since I arrived here keeping you safe, even when you weren't my Queen. I feel like out of the two of us, I'm the only one who is thinking about KEEPING you on the throne you deserve more than anyone else here. I feel like you deserve someone by your side who is amazing as you are. I DON'T want to FUCK YOU Ava, because I FUCKING LOVE YOU."

Ava was breathing as rapidly as John was, her eyes filled with tears as she stared into his, seeing the anger give way to defeat and pain. John sunk to his knees, Ava's face filling with grief seeing how much this admission hurt him. She couldn't grasp before why....why it was so hard for him to say that he loved her out loud. 'I feel like you deserve someone by your side who is amazing as you are' kept repeating in her head and she knew he couldn't say the words before because he truly believed he wasn't good enough to stand by her side - to love her and be loved by her.

John: "I've been in love with you since the day we met. And I would be alone for the rest of my life if that meant I could be near you every day."

Inhaling a shaky breath, the tears fell onto her cheeks as she shut her eyes and shook her head in disbelief. Then Ava sunk to her knees before him, taking John's face within her hands and dipping her head until finally she pressed her lips against his, kissing him deeply. She didn't care where he came from, how he was brought up in the world, or what position he had in Hellfire. He was the man she wanted to be with. He was the man she loved. Ava broke the kiss if only to breath, her forehead pressed against his, her hands never letting go of his face.

"Can't you see that I love you? That I want you more than just in my bed? That I want you by my side instead of one step back? I want you John. I choose you."

Her voice cracked in pain as she spoke. She may have been the Black Queen - ruthless and cold - but she was also a woman with emotions despite her efforts to hide them from the masses. But she was vulnerable and cut wide open for only him, and if John rejected her again? She would tear what's left of her own heart out.

"Please don't push me away again...I can't...I.."

She shook her head while shutting her eyes, unable to finish her sentence.

 

[Ruby]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge


:: Somehow Cass found herself quietly confiding in Bretta, about how she was all alone and how she had no allies or friends whatsoever. She even protected The Imposter because she didn’t want Bretta to think that he wasn’t a good person. He had tried to make her happy, even though she knew that he wasn’t. She shouldn’t have asked him, because she was radioactive, and people shouldn’t be around her because of it. ::

Bretta: “No, Cass. This has absolutely nothing to do with you. You are the innocent one in all of this. It’s not your fault that you’ve been driven mad by a madwoman.”

:: An announcement was made heralding Kelly King’s arrival. Cass involuntarily shuddered. Bretta distracted her by asking about the non-relationship between her and Ava. Cass had confessed that she was only put into the role by Kelly herself, and when she [Cass] had tried to make her see reason, that somebody else would be much better in the role of Black Princess, Kelly had punished her. Now it was what it was, and Ava hated her because of it. Because of Kelly. Then she realized what she had said. ::

Oh no! I shouldn’t have said all this stuff! I always screw up!

:: So she backpedaled, and told Bretta how she wished that she could be better for Ava, because she was such a great Queen. Cass wasn’t even lying about that. She could see how well Ava had treated John, Amanda, and The Imposter.

:: And now Bretta was asking about John. Cass didn’t know John, but she did like the clothes that he wore, so she said so. Cass looked up at Bretta and then quickly lowered her head. Bretta seemed annoyed at her. Cass felt helpless. She tried and tried to do the right thing, but somehow, even if she gave a little bit, she still managed to fuck it all up. She just didn’t know what to do anymore. She didn’t know what people wanted from her. Maybe she should go up to the roof later and, instead of slitting her wrists, she should fling herself off the damn roof. Cass was unaware that calvary was at nigh. Bretta asked another question. ::

Bretta: “Tell me, Cass. Since she is the only other female on your Court, how is your relationship with Amanda Soto, the Black Knight?”

:: Well then. Cass knew what she should do about this question. Cass lifted her head and looked Bretta right in the face. ::

*determined*: “Your Majesty, the Black Knight and I are like sisters.”

:: In her mind’s eye, Cass could see a wall beginning to tumble. She could almost hear the roar as the cement blocks tumbled to the ground. Her mind…her mind was beginning to clear…for the first time in a very long time. Sure, she had thought about her friendship with Amanda. She knew that she missed the closeness the two had. But she had forgotten something. She had forgotten that they were like sisters.. Her mind cleared even more. The frenetic energy inside her mind was beginning to decrease. Sisters. She had known that Amanda deserved to be Princess and she had even took Amanda with her to try to make Kelly see reason. In the end though, Kelly punished her [Cass]. Kelly had punished her for doing the right thing; the noble thing. Unfortunately, driven to madness, Cass had lost sight of that. Due to Kelly playing Alpha Bitch, Cass had betrayed Amanda in the most horrifying way: she didn’t even realize that she was betraying her friend; her sister. The only reason Cass had stayed in the role of Princess was because she got her jollies from the knowledge that every day she woke up as Black Princess, she had ruined Ava’s day just by doing so. Her mind cleared even more. Ben was right; she had been pushing people away. She had put her pettiness towards Ava ahead of what was truly important to HER: Family. Loyalty. Friends. Her mind cleared even more. She could finally think clearly. Everything and everyone was back to normal now. She knew what she had to do. Bretta was still talking. ::

Bretta: “Cass? Cass!”

:: Cass looked at the European Red Queen. She made herself stay where she was for the time being. It wouldn’t do to leave Bretta O’Malley in the midst of her breakthrough. That would be rude. ::

“Yes?”

Bretta: *smiling*: “I was just asking you about your relationship with the Black Bishop. From earlier, it seemed as if you had feelings for him.”

:: Her mind was cleared and everything was now in focus, though she was still processing everything. She smiled at the Red Queen, taking her hand and squeezing it. Though she had touched and held hands with Bretta many times before now, this was a power move for Cass; a reminder that she could draw energy from the Red Queen if need be. ::

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, I don’t see how my personal private life is any of your business.”

:: Cass pulled back as Bretta stuck her face in hers, then she sat back against the loveseat smiling. ::

Bretta: “Well, well, well. Welcome back, Cassandra.”

“Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a life to put back together again.”

:: Cass got up, fluffed her hair, and went to the door. She unlocked it then opened it, standing in the doorway, in her gown, and looked around at everyone. Her eyes flashed green. This, of course, was a battlefield of a different sort. From her vantage point, she couldn’t see Amanda OR Ava, the two people she wanted to talk to the most. No matter. Her eyes went back to her CLEAR ice-blue colour. ::

Time for a different tactic.

:: Cass noticed that Archer Fairchild was all alone. She smiled as she walked to the bar. ::

“I’d like a flute of champagne, please. Thank you.”

:: Cass accepted it and turned around to head for Archer when she noticed Ben next to her at the bar, a stool in between them. ::

“Hey Ben.”

:: Then she was off, sliding into the booth that Archer was sitting in and angled her body towards him. ::

“Your Majesty, please forgive me for not meeting your acquaintance earlier. I haven’t been myself lately, but I’m back now. How are your accommodations treating you?”

:: She was getting her damn power back. ::

 

[Steel]

The Black Queen's Suite

He felt her kneel down to his level, and his eyes raised to her face, to the tears on her cheeks like tiny knives through him. He never wanted to make her cry. Her hands touched the sides of his face, and he fully expected her to separate his head from his body. And then she was kissing him, like blazing sun and arctic frost at the same time. His arms circled around her back, holding her against him. It was perfect, the way she felt in his arms, the way she tasted. It was everything he had ever wanted.

And then she pulled away, touching her forehead against his. He reached up to touch her hair.

"I'm sorry...about everything I said. I just want what's best for you..."

"Can't you see that I love you? That I want you more than just in my bed? That I want you by my side instead of one step back? I want you John. I choose you."

He couldn't believe that she was saying these things. All the things he had always wanted to hear but could never fathom hearing them.

"You deserve so much more than what I can give you."

"Please don't push me away again...I can't...I.."

She shut her eyes. He looked at her, the woman he loved, and in that moment, made a choice. Because she was worth throwing everything else away for. He raised his hand to cup her cheek, and when her eyes opened he leaned forward and kissed her softly.

"Never again."

And then he pressed his lips against hers again, this time with more need. He stood from his knees, bringing her with him, and then lifted her into the air, his lips never leaving hers. He carried her like that towards the bed. He set her down next to it while his fingers found the zipper of her dress and pulled it slowly down off her shoulders. He took a moment to gaze at her beauty while he slipped out of his suit, then he was pushing her back onto the bed and hovering over her. Their mouths met once again, and his hands roamed her body, stroking her forbidden flesh.

"Ava..."

He murmured it, his hand running over the outside of her thigh, pulling it to the outside of his hip. And then he slipped inside her, slowly, gasping in at the feel of her. He began to move, while every part of them became one. He pulled back from their kiss so he could lock eyes with her, see the expression on her face.

"I love you."

 

[Persephone]

She was now on his level, all formality and hierarchy aside. She wasn't his Queen, and he wasn't her Rook. They were John and Ava and she needed him to understand that he was more than enough for her. That he was better than she could ever be. Ava took his face within her hands as he looked up into her eyes, and before he could protest or stop her, Ava kissed him deeply. His tongue within her mouth tasting as sweet as the deadliest fruit. She didn't want to stop in fear he would push her away. But John's arms circled around her back and Ava sighed out softly into their kiss, melting into his touch. Finally she broke the kiss, resting her forehead onto his. He apologized and she shook her head explaining to him that she wants him and only him, no one else by her side.

John: "You deserve so much more than what I can give you."

She felt sick to her stomach at his words, feeling like he was going to tell her he couldn't be with her and push her away again. She exposed herself to him in that moment and she was terrified he was going to get up and walk out her chamber room doors like she had screamed at him to do moments earlier.

"Please don't push me away again...I can't...I.."

She shut her eyes, burning with tears. She may have been the Queen outside these chamber room walls, but right now she was just Ava, and she was on her knees awaiting to be left alone once again. She felt John's hand go to her cheek cupping it. She didn't want to open her eyes, dipping her face into his touch hoping the second would last a lifetime.

"John..."

But she knew she had to look at him, and if he walked out those doors, she would watch and know she put everything on the line and that love truly was one of the most deadly weapons in the world. Their eyes met, tears within hers - fear within hers. And then he leaned in and gently kissed her.

John: "Never again."

He whispered and Ava gasped out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding, so filled with every emotion that had built up within her. It was like the thousand pound weight pressing on her chest finally lifted feeling him kiss her again. Ava smiling between the kiss until he pressed his lips more urgently into hers, with so much need. Wrapping her arms around his neck, they both raised tall on their knees until John stood, holding Ava against him and picking her up with ease. Her hand held the back of his head, refusing to let their lips part as he walked them both to her bed. He gently settled her onto her feet, Ava's hands sliding up along John's shoulders and pushing his jacket off. He began to unzip her dress while her fingers undid his dress shirt. And finally, he broke their kiss as he pushed the material of her dress off her shoulders allowing it to fall from her body and pool onto the floor. Because of the sheer style of the dress, she wore no undergarments, now standing fully nude in front of him. Her eyes never left him as he took in her body; his hands moving fluidly to remove his dress pants. Ava's chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes roaming down his gorgeous body seeing how hard he already was for her. Her hands went to his chest as he began to kiss her again, laying them both down onto her bed. John hovered above her, his hands gliding across her skin like an electric current. Ava softly moaned into their kiss, feeling his hand move up the outside of her thigh as he positioned his body between her.

John: "Ava..."

He murmured against her lips. She didn't want him in that moment, she needed him.

"Don't stop.."

And then he slid inside her making her moan out in pure ecstasy. Her breathing was already heavy at the feel of him filling her so completely, at the reaction he had as he entered her. Grasping his back as he began to move within her, Ava's mouth heatedly met with his, each connection causing every synapse within her body to fire. Ava wrapped her leg around John's hip, groaning out softly at the angle change. Then John broke their kiss, looking down at her. Ava's face was filled with so much pleasure, so much love for him, all the walls and barriers were gone between them. He saw every piece of her in that moment.

John: "I love you."

Ava's hand moved to his cheek bringing his face back down to her so she could kiss him before meeting his eyes once again.

"I love you, my King."

Ava's mouth connected with his again as she slid her one hand into his, interlinking their fingers together. She squeezed his hand tightly, feeling him begin to move harder now with a renewed vigor. Each connection caused Ava to moan between their kiss, the pressure building deep within her gut. She could feel her body reacting to every touch, kiss, and movement made from him and knew she wouldn't last long. Breaking their kiss, Ava gasped out, her body tensing below his.

"John..."

She breathlessly whispered with urgency until finally her body was overcome with pleasure and she began to come, Ava crying out as her head fell back against the bed and eyes rolled shut, riding out the beautifully intense wave to completion.

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge


Daniel: "Gia Nefaria! As I live and breathe!"

Gia fought the urge to roll her eyes.

“Oh, come off it, Daniel. You don’t need to be so sarcastic.”

She gave his suit a compliment.

Daniel: "I don't care for musicals, but thank you none the less. And look around, my pet. There's plenty of delicious red suits here this evening, ripe for the picking."

Gia did a big show of looking around, her eyes wide open.

“As I said, Daniel…circuses and musicals.”

Daniel: "Eh, I've made more than one man without any clothes on at all. Semantics."

Gia briefly wondered what he looked like naked…and if he was willing to put aside his homosexual tendencies for one night, before she chuckled and shook her head.

“You’re funny.”

Daniel: "So..Countess. I hear we are stirring up trouble lately. Good girl. Anything I should know? You know boys like me like to get the scoop."

“Honey, we’re always stirring up trouble here. It all depends on what your definition of ‘scoop’ is.”

Gia picked up another flute of champagne and took a sip. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Cass had finally stepped out of the private room wearing a…new dress? Gia narrowed her eyes as she watched the succubus head for the bar before approaching the Black King. Now that would be interesting. She turned back to Daniel.

“So…what kind of ‘scoop’ are you interested in?”

 

[Avalanche]

Hellfire - Aquarius

Well the only thing that Archer Fairchild had accomplished this evening thus far was getting positively pissed. But that goal he always accomplished. He watched as the Kings and Queens went their separate ways, and he couldn't help but feel a bit overlooked. But perhaps it had it's advantages as well. Archer liked sex very uncomplicated, and although it seemed counterproductive to the way things operated at Hellfire, they often mucked things up. Sure, sex could sometimes help a power play, but none of these things were sustainable. Relationships fell apart, love fell apart and it left a man open to all sorts of manipulation. Or so he told himself. He would wait for the fallout of this weekend, and make his move then. There were plenty of places to his stick his dick that weren't coated in barbed wire.

He lifted his glass to his lips and took a long sip, when all of a sudden and without warning, The American Black Princess was in his booth, making herself at home. Archer thought for a moment she was a drunken hallucination.

Cassandra: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for not meeting your acquaintance earlier. I haven't been myself lately, but I'm back now. How are your accommodations treating you?"

Archer cocked an amused eyebrow. He had no idea what she meant when she said she hadn't been herself lately, but he chalked it up to the American court always believing that whatever was going on in their lives was the most important thing in the world. He chuckled.

"My accommodations are fine, Cassandra Johnson. As always.."

He took another drink.

"How about yours? The Black Queen hasn't killed you yet. That's a good...albeit surprising thing. I heard Kelly King placed you there as one final fuck you to Ava."

Archer pulled a cigarette out of his jacket pocket and lit it, inhaling and exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"I gotta hand it to ole' lady King. She did know how to leave a lasting impression..."

He flicked the ash into a crystal ash tray on the table.

"Our Red Queen has taken a liking to you, I see. Tell me, did she lead you into a quiet area, get you to spill your guts, and then leave feeling as if she were your friend?"

[exhaling]

"She's good at that."

[thinking]

"Or does our dear Bretta find herself taken with you? I can't blame her. Alistair is many things, but a great lover, I hear, is not one of them..."

 

[Discord]

Hellfire - Aquarius

Gia: "Honey, we're always stirring up trouble here. It all depends on what your definition of 'scoop' is."

"Oh you dear, sweet girl."

This was not Daniel Reed's first rodeo. He had grown up in these circles, and holding dual membership to both clubs had amassed him a surprising amount of eyes and ears along both courts. He had heard many rumors about Gia as of late, and he began to wonder if even she knew how thin the ice she was standing on was. He took a drink of his whiskey sour and licked his lips to get the last few bits of sweetness off his lips.

Gia: "So...what kind of 'scoop' are you interested in?"

[smirking]

"Oh I don't know...something about The White Bishop and The Black Princess waxing poetic about their former queens on the eve of the arrival of Hellfire Europe. I heard it caused quite the splash..not to mention, as an empath I've sensed nothing but tension since I've arrived..."

His smile was more cheshire cat like now.

"And then you were late this evening...Which, I mean for you is normal, but it seemed poorly timed, considering.."

Daniel eyed Gia up and down, unable to help his somewhat cocky nature. She was a Bishop, and as such, she was competition for him. He prided himself on being the best of them, and he couldn't help but dig at the others when he saw them. Plus, Gia was a woman with a rush of dark and particularly deliciously bitter emotions coursing through her, just underneath the surface. When he had first met her, he could SENSE her ties of loyalty, and see them. They were pristine white. Perfectly clear. But now? They were a bloody mess, and he couldn't help but probe.

"I guess the scoop I'm interested in..is if the White Bishop is planning on going rogue, has she already? And does she have a death wish I should know about?"

He downed the rest of his drink in one fell swoop, placing it down on the counter as it was refreshed almost instantly.

"For starters..."

 

[Steel]

Ava's Room

They came together, two hearts seeking each other and finally surpassing the road blocks after such a long time. They touched each other without embarrassment, with love and gentleness. She was his dream, and somehow he was awake and she was still there. Every motion was filled with love, and even though he wanted her desperately, still he caressed her skin, kissed her soft lips. He whispered her name.

"Don't stop.."

"I couldn't."

And when he entered her he thought he would die. He moved slowly as he made love to her, wanting it to go on forever. Her hands on his body were like a magnet pulling him to her, and her lips were the sweetest thing he had ever known. He told her he loved her again, because he had to tell her, because he felt it so completely in that moment. And then she brought his face back to hers for another kiss.

"I love you, my King."

John didn't care about being King of the Black Court. But he wanted nothing more than to be her king, and be by her side forever. He felt her hand find his, their fingers interlocking. He smiled against her lips as she squeezed his hand. He needed her so badly, he couldn't hold back, and started moving faster. She said his name, and it was like the words of a goddess. And then she came, and he watched the wave crash over her, her body tensing and spasming beneath him, heard her crying out. And then his cries matched hers as he came too, his hips continuing to rock gently against hers until finally they came to a stop. He kissed her, his free hand going to her hair, and then he rolled onto his back pulling her to his chest. He wanted her to stay in his arms forever.

He gazed down into her face, and touched his nose to hers. His fingers stroked the skin at her shoulder.

"Tell me we don't have to go back to the party..."

 

[Persephone]

The wave crashed over her like none she had ever felt before, and in that moment she realized there truly was a line between making love and just fucking. Ava's body pulsed as she gripped onto John, never wanting the feeling to stop. Then she heard his cries causing her to open her eyes and see his face, the warmth filling her as the aftershocks within her slowly began to subside. John's movements slowed and Ava sighed out as his lips found hers again, Ava holding the nape of his neck so the kiss would linger. Then John rolled from on top of her onto his back, keeping his arms wrapped around her and pulling her into his chest. Ava smiled with absolute joy, her leg hooking over his while her arm laid across his check hugging herself to his massive body.

"That was incredible."

Tilting her head up, her smile broadened seeing his smile; John gently touching his nose to her in the sweetest and most intimate of ways. His hands stroked the skin of her shoulder making her shut her eyes and savor the loving moment.

John: "Tell me we don't have to go back to the party..."

Ava groaned, letting out a little laugh as she buried her face into the crook of his neck.

"We have to go back to the party..."

She smiled against his skin, kissing his shoulder softly before lifting her head to look into his eyes.

"But not yet. Perks of being a Queen."

She smirked, her finger gently tracing along his chest. Her midnight eyes stayed connected with his, hoping he knew what she said earlier was true. She wanted to make John her king. She was the only Queen within the Inner Circle who had been ruling without a King, but she wanted that to end tonight.

"I meant what I said before....I want you to be my King, John."

Her thumb gently crossed his bottom lip.

"I can't imagine anyone else by my side. We can rule together."

Ava kissed his lips softly before meeting with his eyes once again, hoping he could see how formidable and powerful they would be as a royalty together. She smiled at him, lifting herself onto her forearm that rested across his chest, her hair curtaining to frame one side of her face.

"I can make the announcement at our Black Party tomorrow night..."

 

[Goliath]

Hellfire - Aquarius

"Fuckin' bollocks, is what it is!"

Ben said out loud to nobody in particular as he walked away from the party. Even the stragglers had managed to find somebody who wanted to take hold of their time. Amanda was wrong. Ben was a ghost here. He had given it what he could this evening, and he wound up feeling as empty inside by the time the clock had struck twelve. So he decided to take a page from his father's book, and get absolutely obliterated. But, he could not do this any front of the courts. Staggering down the hall, he reached a private, very secluded room at the end of the hall with a chic black bed with silk sheets and a number of black velvet sofas, an entire wall composed of plate glass giving view to the Aqua Ring.

Grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the table, he plopped down on the bed, his back against the mattress, taking a sloppy swig as he stared at the ceiling, his vision doing circles as he felt him spin around the room. He was very drunk. For a few fleeting feelings he wondered the release his father might have felt upon ending his life. This life sucked. And he was beginning like he didn't have enough to cling on to. At least not enough that would make him want to stay.

"I'm a fucking MESS..."

He closed his eyes, attempting hone in on the pulsating music that was coming from down the hall, his head swaying back and forthe, and for a few seconds it worked. For a few seconds, he felt good. Good and drunk.

Until a few bone chilling chords sent him shooting up from the bed.

female voice: "Benjamin Lewis...get yourself TOGETHER this instant."

She said with a deep sense of control. He focused his hazy vision to make out the form of Kelly King in front of him in a ball gown and a dissappointed look on her face.

"My queen, I apologize..what..how can I help you?"

 

[Talisman]

Hellfire - Aquarius

"Well this was certainly an atrocious event."

At least from what she had summized. The Inner Circle were enjoying themselves, that much she knew, but these were not power plays. They were the horny machinations of incredibly bored people, and it made Kelly somewhat sick. But her encounter with Stavros had left her invigoration and in the short time of her transportation from her penthouse to the mansion, she had become clear on what she needed to do. Things would not go as anticipated this weekend. It was time for a creative period among Hellfire. She needed to inspire. She needed to intimidate, and she needed to play the cards she had been developing over the last few decades. And with the rapid pace of this evening, it appeared as if she was going to have to play one of them sooner than she anticipated. Her cobalt blue eyes honed in on a very drunk Benjamin Lewis. A Goliath of her creation, and a twisted smile crept up in her dark crimson black lips.

"Such a gentle soul, despite his upbringing. If only he knew, he was no longer alone as he thought."

She stalked him as he made his way through the ballroom floor towards the private rooms down the hall, blindly stumbling into a door, where he lucked into a very luxurious looking bordello room. There was a part of his pain that pleased her, because she knew that in torturing Benjamin, she would be torturing Finn, even if he was in a grave that she dug for him. There was a reason she allowed him to live within these walls.

"Benjamin Lewis...get yourself TOGETHER this instant."

His body obeyed her command, as all subjects of her Body Shoppe did without question, save for the Black Knight. She watched his drunk eyes find her face and smirked as he immediately tried to compose himself.

"Still got it."

Benjamin: "My queen, I apologize..what..how can I help you?"

"Mmm."

Kelly loved when members of the black court referred to her as Queen. It let her know that Ava didn't have all the power in this place.

"You can start by drinking a glass of water and telling me what troubles you."

Over the years, Kelly had shown Ben moments of intimacy, making him believe that she was his maternal figure, and it worked. If there was anybody he respected, it was Kelly. He felt bound to her, and that was important. It would be very easy to manipulate him.

Benjamin: "Forgive me..I'm just..tonight that is the night.."

"That your father died. I remember."

She was there. Kelly moved over towards him, sitting next to Ben on the bed, offering her support.

"You cannot continue to grieve him as you do, Ben. He may have been your father, but he was not a man you would want to know. Believe me."

Her hand reached for his.

Benjamin: "That should have been for ME to decide, Kel--your Queen."

"Well he made that decision for you, boy. That is just the reality of the situation. Would you really respect a man who had ended his own life rather than deal with the consequences of his own actions. He is the polar opposite of you, Benjamin."

She exhaled deeply as a glass of hemlock shimmered into her hand. She took a small slip, their hands now interlocked.

"I feel like I have failed you in some way, Ben."

Ben: "No, Talisman. Not at all. You let me stay here. I owe my life to you."

"But I've kept something from you. Something I should have told you a long time ago...and something, I really feel would have changed your life for the better."

She watched his curiousity peak, suddenly becoming sober in the moment. He was hanging on her every word, just as she had anticipated. It was time for the truth.

"You are not the only child of Finn Lewis that lives in these walls, Ben. There is another, someone you know very well.."

Benjamin: "Whha..Who? Kelly-Who is it?"

She took a dramatic pause and smuldered her eyes, giving him a remorseful and pervase look.

"It's..it's Erika King."

And down the rabbit hole they went.

 

[Ruby]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge



Archer: "My accommodations are fine, Cassandra Johnson. As always. How about yours? The Black Queen hasn't killed you yet. That's a good...albeit surprising thing. I heard Kelly King placed you there as one final fuck you to Ava."

“That she did, that she did…”

:: She watched as he took a cigarette out of his jacket and lit it. She pushed the ashtray a bit closer towards him. ::

Archer: "I gotta hand it to ole' lady King. She did know how to leave a lasting impression..."

*half to herself*: “She certainly does know how to leave a...lasting impression…”

Archer: "Our Red Queen has taken a liking to you, I see. Tell me, did she lead you into a quiet area, get you to spill your guts, and then leave feeling as if she were your friend?"

:: He exhaled. ::

Archer: "She's good at that. Or does our dear Bretta find herself taken with you? I can't blame her. Alistair is many things, but a great lover, I hear, is not one of them..."

“We shall see whether she’s a friend or a foe, won’t we?”

:: Out of the corner of her eye she spotted KELLY FUCKING KING following after Ben somewhere. ::

Nothing good can come of that!

:: Everything within her wanted to follow after them, wanted to protect him from that BITCH. But she forced herself to stay focused on Archer. ::

“How sad for Alistair. I, on the other hand, am a great lover…”

:: She gave him a wink. ::

“I would certainly understand if she was taken with me…if I do say so myself. ::

:: Inside, though, she was full of fear for Ben. ::

Leave him alone!!

 

[Liam Forbes]

The Hellfire Club - - Aquarius

They flirted a little, and talked a little business as well, and as the conversation went on, it became clear that the three of them were on the same wavelength. This vacation was turning out even better than he had hoped. It didn't take very long at all, it seemed, for Julie to settle on this particular Nordic Queen. The Vamp leaned against him, giving him the go-ahead, and so Liam didn't waste any more time, just plain asked Ashley to take them somewhere more private.

Ash: If there's anything else you would like to see on your visit, or if you need anything at all, my Court would be pleased to assist you.

"But not as pleased as you, I guarantee that."

He assured her. She led them to a room that she deemed 'would do nicely', and then she locked them in with her.

Ash: Don't you find Americans to be so much more...restrained...than those of us from elsewhere? I mean, these dresses, for example-- so confining.

Liam watched her hands run up the slopes of her body, as they followed her to the bedroom. She didn't even wait for one of them to offer to free her of her confines, as Liam was about to. She just shed her dress as she went. Liam dropped his dinner jacket next to her dress and moved in quickly, with Julie right behind him, her fingers already deftly undoing his black tie and the buttons of his shirt. Liam's hands traced the previous path Ash's had, from her hips up to her breasts, his mouth finding hers quickly.

"Well, you're free now, almost. Please, allow me."

He said, as they crawled into bed together. He kissed her neck, and then her bosom, her hip. His fingers hooked onto the only garment she was left wearing. He pulled it off smoothly, and was about to kiss her between her legs when she felt Julie against his back, her voice in his ear. She said his name, and he paused, then sat back up.

"Oh yes, excuse me. Ladies first."

He said, and switched places with her, as his Queen settled in between american thighs, lithe and spry. He watched her kiss the inner part of Ashley's leg, where the femoral artery was. She wanted to bite, he knew, but not so soon. Her lips moved up to taste the American Red Queen. Liam moved back to kiss Ashley's breasts again, moving up her throat and then to kiss her lips, but not for long. He realized his own queen was still dressed, and shifted to fix that problem.

"You know Ashley, We really do appreciate your style of hospitality."

Julie: Mmm...

 

[Steel]

Ava's Room

Ava's naked body pressed against him, and he wanted nothing in the world more than to lay there with her, talking, kissing, making love, all night long. It was like he had woken up from a dream into a new world, one where the barriers of his old life didn't exist. It felt like now they were two against the world.

"That was incredible."

He smiled, not too proud to enjoy the compliment.

"Really incredible."

He begged her to tell him they didn't have to go back to the party, that they could stay there just like this all night. Forever.

Ava groaned, and buried her face in his neck, which at that moment was about the most endearing thing she could have done. He gently put his hand on the back of her head, hugging her to him.

"We have to go back to the party..."

"That was not the answer I was looking for."

She kissed his shoulder, which went a long way to mitigate his disappointment.

"But not yet. Perks of being a Queen."

He put his hand on her waist, which slid suggestively down to her hip. He dipped his head and kissed her neck, then picked it back up to look into her eyes.

"Just tell me how long I have..."

He smiled, and her fingers were grazing his chest in a most distracting manner.

"I meant what I said before....I want you to be my King, John. I can't imagine anyone else by my side. We can rule together."

She kissed him then, which he returned happily. But then he shook his head.

"I don't care about any of that, Ava. I just want to be with you."

She came up onto her forearm and looked at him intently.

"I can make the announcement at our Black Party tomorrow night..."

He reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"Don't you want to...think about it for a while? Make sure this is what you really want?"

He put his hand on her back and started to rub it.

"Wait until you marry, even. I don't want you to end up like Ashley, full of regret... I love you, Ava. I will be by your side, no matter what my title is, even if I have no title. I'm with you. You don't have to prove anything to me."