Marauders #2: Mayhem in Madripoor

[Seer]

<< The next two hours at Hellfire London were hours of celebration. The newly crowned Red King, Daniel Reed, and the freshly appointed Red Bishop, Simon Pratt met with the other members of The Inner Circle, discussing current optics and the days ahead. The Red Court would travel with Maxine Dupont aka Domino to the nation of Madripoor in search of whatever clues they could find that might lead them to the whereabouts of Kelly Shaw and Helena Quartermaine. For Maxine, the journey was deeply personal. She had promised herself to both protect Jessica Marcus aka Viper, and murder Kelly in cold blood. For Daniel, this was his first official outing as The Red King of Hellfire Europe. He wanted to make a good show, prove his value to The Inner Circle, and begin to blaze a path towards the vision of Hellfire he so desperately wanted. Simon, was along for the ride. The last two years had shown him that so much of his life had been a lie, or rather hidden from him. He was looking for answers, but more than that, he was looking for himself. He just needed as much information as he could get before he could him. >>

<< Domino was right, the journey to Madripoor would take two days, and much of that time was spent getting their affairs in order. An avid and well known hacker in her own right, Maxine spent her time pouring through intel channels trying to find whatever she could on the movements of Hellfire America as well as the movements of Helena and Kelly, and was beginning to become disgruntled at the lack of information she was coming up. Meanwhile, Daniel was giving Simon a crash course on Hellfire, The Inner Circle and exactly what it meant to be a bishop of the courts. Eventually they found their way to the port of Madripoor, which would end up being their home for far longer than any of them anticipated. >>

<< Madripoor. Officially the Principality of Madripoor, was an island in Southeast Asia, located in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore. Its capital and single large city was Madripoor, which was divided between wealthy Hightown and impoverished, crime-ridden Lowtown. This served to represent the extreme social inequality in Madripoor, described as "A place for the very rich and the very poor." Madripoor was once a haven for pirates, a tradition that had somewhat continued to present day with its lawless quality; the Principality did not allow other nations to extradite criminals; however, it was still considered one of the business capitals of the Pacific Rim. It was a place of incredible wealth, incredible poverty, innovation, crime and intrigue. >>

<< Hellfire Europe had taken care of The Marauder's accommodations, with the group staying in Hightown at one of Archer Fairchild's properties on the island – a sky rise penthouse with many bedrooms and modern luxuries, and while the team enjoyed them in their own personal ways, there was not much time for rest and relaxation. >>

<< As night fell upon the city of Madripoor, Maxine gave out assignments. She would be meeting with a personal contact in Midtown, Daniel would be attending a gala of the uber elite celebrating some kind of inherently shallow cause, that despite it's disingenuous intentions, would be crawling with an upper echelon of society from all over the world. In short, it would be the perfect place for Daniel to look for any leads, though he would find himself unprepared for who he was about to stumble upon. >>

<< Simon would find himself assigned to Lowtown, a place that was the polar opposite of how he was raised – a place where there were no laws, and no secrets spilled easily, but it was clear that this was a test for the young bishop, one he would ultimately end up both failing at and succeeding. >>

<< And as the moon slowly begins it's rise in a city like no other, so we watch! >>>

 

[Domino]

Welcome to Madripoor

Two days on a boat, despite one as nice and functional as The Marauder had left Maxine on edge. She had spent much of her adolescence in a cell, which often made travel difficult for her. She hated being in closed off spaces, and the feeling of being captive to something she had no control over. It wasn't just claustrophobia, it was the fear of being caged again. So when she saw the neon skyline of Madripoor in the distance, she was more than relieved to throw herself into the action. She loved this place. It was everything that was wrong in the world, but it didn't pretend. It was a lawless place that somehow operated with it's own code of conduct, and all of it was thrilling. It was a place she knew well, and as they docked in the Hellfire port, Maxine was itching to get into the mix.

She had spent the last few days pouring through intel, trying to find anything she could on The Sisterhood's whereabouts, and she had found nothing. Not even her knowledge of ghost protocols within Hellfire got her any answers, which worried her. It meant that Hellfire America, at least at this moment was completely down for the count. Helena and Kelly were using resources outside of the club, so Maxine instinctively began to dig into Helena's connections. Kelly had only been in this timeline for a short time and it seemed as if she had spent her time and all her focus on establishing herself within Hellfire, whereas Helena was an old bitch in the game, but it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. With Helena's powerset and Kelly's omni sight, the woman could be anywhere, and finding them was going to a monumental task. But she made a promise to both Alek and Jessica, and she had never once broken a promise. So if slumming around Madripoor resulted in a lead of any kind, Maxine was willing to spend as much time as it would take.

But first, she made sure to take a little time away from the blossoming bromance of Daniel and Simon. They had checked into their Hightown penthouse, and Max immediately distanced herself, taking the longest hottest shower she could bare, enjoyed a nice bottle of Lagavulin, a rare tomahawk steak, and a bowl of vanilla ice cream before she met with them to go over the plan of attack. She may have been here because of Hellfire's resources, but this was still Maxine's mission to run. This was her team.

Maxine had a personal connection in Madripoor in the form of a beautiful doctor she had romanced a few years back while on assignment for Hellfire named Monica Goldsmith. She worked for a private hospital in hightown but also did outreach work in Lowtown. She oftened helped the social elite and criminally relevant population in Madripoor, and used the under the table money she made to help those in need. And she had perfect breasts, so Maxine was excited to reconnect.

As luck would have it, there was a gala happening in Hightown this evening, and Domino wanted Daniel on the case. It was clear whoever bought the asset from Meridian Industries, it was likely a clout chaser who wanted to make a name for themselves. Daniel's powers would be invaluable in giving them an inside look at the connections of Madripoors social and criminal circles. Which meant -

Simon: "Lowtown? Like....where all the dangerous shit happens? That's where you want me?!"

"For somebody who has luck on that side you sure sound like a pussy right now.."

Daniel: "Ughh...I loathe that word. But yes, Si. You're going to lowtown. You have a low profile here. We need to get a handle on what the word on the street is there. Whoever is trying to use some kind of BIO TECH weapon isn't going to use the rich to do it. They'll be hiring, which means someone in Lowtown knows something..."

"Exactly, so put that power of yours to use and FIND us a lead...and DON'T come back without one."

Maxine looked at the clock on the wall in front of her before glancing back to her team.

"We all have our assignments. We will meet back here at 0200. Tech sweeps here are meticulous, so we won't be com linked, but we've got sub dermal trackers from Hellfire and I've set up a makeshift hub in the dining room. If one of us runs into trouble, we'll be able to find each other....but from this moment on? We're all on our own...."

Simon: "Should we do an all in "MARAUDERS!" on three?"

[Daniel and Maxine at the same time] "No."

With a simple nod, the group began to disperse as Maxine headed to her bedroom, pulled on her black motorcyle jacket and dabbed a bit of perfume on her neck and wrists as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was uneasy. She wanted to find her sister, Jessica...she wanted to find Alek. And she wasn't sure she would. But she was sure she would die trying.

 

[Discord]

So far, it was good to be king. It hadn't been the coronation he had planned in his head as a young boy in boarding school, but it couldn't have come at a better time politically. As the sole ruler of The Red Court, by accepting the crown, he had also found himself as the swing vote between the black and white courts. With Hellfire America scattered to the wind, this was the London branch's chance to turn the clubs head in their direction. Which meant Daniel intended on showing his face as much as humanly possible, and making a presence in Madripoor was a good way to get his court on the map, and to get people to look at his branch with respect.

The boatride, however, he did not love so much. Daniel was a creature of routine and habit. He didn't like feeling captive. And the fact that he could not leave the boat had caused his compulsions to go into overdrive. So far he had barely slept. His rituals simply required too much attention. He knew it was because he was secretly scared at how well his play for power had just went. He hadn't expected it, and he wasn't sure if he could rise to the occassion. After a rough first night, Daniel decided to focus on inducting Simon into Hellfire. Part history lesson, part training session, Daniel wanted to see what Simon was capable of, and the only thing he could think of was placing Simon in as much danger as possible....to see just how much luck he had on his side and how it worked. Madripoor would provide that opportunity.

Thankfully, just when Daniel thought he couldn't stand another second at sea, The Marauders docked in Madripoor and were whisked by Hellfire towncar towards their accommodations in Hightown. Though Hightown was a technological, modern, forward thinking, insanely rich community, there was a seedy underbelly that no neighborhood could avoid. Thirty four floors up in the air, they arrived at a residential suite at The Sovereign Hotel, which happened to be one of the most expensive hotels in the world. Daniel was relieved. He was a snob, and he thrived in sterile and expensive locations. For the first time in three days he relaxed, grateful to spend some time to himself, and surprisingly grateful at Archer Fairchild's real estate collection.

He had come to Madripoor because he wanted to start to make a name for himself. He didn't much care for Alek or Jessica Marcus, but if helping Maxine find them could expand his courts influence on a global stage, he was most certainly willing to risk it. At least socially. Daniel had a social call to make tonight, one The Marauders were hoping would prove fruitful.

"Two of hearts, two hearts that beat as one...."

Daniel sang to himself the musical stylings of Stacy Q as he took a scorching hot particularly painful shower and readied himself for the evening. Choosing a a crimson red formal suit, with black undershirt and tie, he met both Simon and Maxine in the main foyer of the penthouse.

Maxine gave the instructions as Daniel's new bishop acted accordingly.

Simon: "Lowtown? Like....where all the dangerous shit happens? That's where you want me?"

Maxine: "For somebody who has luck on their side, you sure sound like a pussy right now.."

The Red King cringed.

"Ughh...I loathe that word. But yes, Si. You're going to lowtown. You have a low profile here. We need to get a handle on what the word on the street is here. Whoever is trying to use some kind of BIO TECH weapon isn't going to use the rich to do it. They'll be hiring, which means someone in Lowtown knows something..."

It wasn't necessarily true, but Simon needed a cause. So The Red King gave him one.

Maxine: "We all have our assignments. We will meet back here at 0200. Tech sweeps here are meticulous, so we won't be com linked, but we've got sub dermal trackers from Hellfire and I've set up a makeshift hub in the dining room. If one of us runs into trouble, we'll be able to find each other...but from this moment on? We're all on our own..."

Simon: "Should we do an all in "MARAUDERS!" on three?"

"No."

Shortly after, Maxine left Daniel and Simon alone. Daniel walked over towards Simon, taking a moment to smooth out his bishop's shirt with his hands. This would be their first mission together. This was a big moment for them both.

"Look, I want you to really dig into the scene here, but I want you to be smart. With my power, I'll be able to detect your emotional presence in the city. I can track you if I need to. But hopefully I won't need to right?"

Simon: "Right. I promise, Danno. I can hold my own weight. You'll see."

"I shall. See you on the other side, Longshot."

Simon: :"Ditto, Discord."

Daniel headed towards the elevator, down to the ground level, and took another Hellfire car towards the gala he was attending this evening. It was a fundraiser to feed the homeless across the world while serving $500 a bottle champagne. But one would be surprised to know how many criminals there were in the charity world. This was a diverse crowd, and someone at the event just might know something that could help Maxine and himself. The venue was gorgeous. Shockingly modern and elegant and classic. So much so that he was formally announced over the speakers as he entered.

"Freshly crowned Red King of Hellfire London, Sir Daniel Reed."

He wasn't ashamed at how much he loved to hear himself introduced. It was clear a lot of money was being spent here tonight, and Daniel was wondering exaclty how much of it was going to charity. He decided to sit back for a few moments, indulging in a glass of champagne as he walked around, reaching out with his power to get a better sense of things. People were ejnoying themselves, and all the playful emotions were giving Daniel a bit of a hit. With his power, he often found himself mimicking the emotions of those around them, if those emotions were strong enough. Overall, the vibe at the party was good, so Daniel felt good. There were some intense feelings, but nobody was about to fight or kill each other. He had been announced, and the best option was to weight to see who approached him, so that was exactly what he did as he took a seat at his table, nodding to one of the wait staff for a refill on champagne.

"Time to see what rises to the top..."

Daniel Reed was about to find out faster than he realized as a strange and yet somehow familiar feminine form began to make her way through the crowd, seemingly intent on speaking him. And when it became clear, suffice it to say, he was more than unprepared.

 

[Chameleon]

Meanwhile in Madripoor

Camille didn't much mind working for Talisman, after everything the woman had given her. A year ago, she was an overmedicated shell of a woman, grasping at straws for ways to make herself feel relevant again. Talisman remembered who she had been. She repaired her body and fixed her mind. In short, whatever Dr. Shaw required of her, she would do without hesitation. She was free to live life as she chose, but Talisman had certainly put her to work. As a shapeshifter, she could become anything animal, vegetable or mineral, and she put those skills to use crafting various identities, all of whom served Talisman's interests. She had been a banker in the Cayman Islands, a politician's advisor in South Africa, and most recently, a minor crimelord in Madripoor. Talisman wanted to do business in Madripoor, but she didn't have the time to do it herself. The city was the heart of the black market.

"It could be a valuable resource, Chameleon. We simply must figure out a way to insert ourselves."

Talisman's words rang through her ears as she entered the main foyer of the fundraising gala happening in Hightown tonight. She made her way to the reception area and handed them her identification.

Function Worker: "Skylar Shelby. Pleasure for you to join us, Madam."

She smirked with a mischievous smolder as she tucked her ID back into her silver clutch and was lead into the main room. Skylar Shelby was quickly becoming one of her favorite identities. She had decided to have a bit of fun with this assignment and patterned this identity after a younger, more rebellious version of herself. Kelly had dropped her in Madripoor with a few bargainning chips and was instructed to use those chips to build the former black queen's connections within the city. And so far, she had done so. As Skylar, she had been able to build ties with some of the bigger crime lords in the city, especially those who dealt in technology and the occult, both of which she had been downloaded a wealth of knowledge about for this particular mission. Before too long, Skylar was creating her own space in Darktown, as well as employing from Lowtown. In short, she was building an empire.

"Enchante, friend. Thank you for the invitation. I look forward to seeing what tonight has to offer. And I assure you, I will do whatever I can to make sure we reach out fundraising goal..."

Soon, Skylar (Camille) was ushered into the grand ballroom, once again smirking when she looked around at those in attendance. She had been right to weasel her way into an invite. There were some heavy hitters in Hightown attending this event. She procured herself a glass of champagne and proceeded to walk around the event and observe. Her days as a prima ballerina had left her with the faintest hint of an appetite, so sit down dinners weren't necessarily her thing. As she made her way across the floor, the hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention as she perceived Daniel Reed several feet in front of her. There had been rumblings he had just become Red King, and Camille was intrigued to say the least. Daniel Reed was the man that nearly killed her. Had he not left her so disfigured and injured, Talisman may have never saved her. She didn't like to think about it, but she still had a simmering rage about Daniel. Rebecca Everhart was a friend. She was crazy and vapid and infuriating, but she was loyal and ironclad. He turned on her. His help could have made all the difference in their favor. If he hadn't flipped sides, they might have just survived the revolt. If Daniel Reed was in Madripoor, Camille wanted to know why...so she could ruin it and extort it. She bridged the gap between them.

"Did I hear that introduction correctly? You are the new Red King of Hellfire?"

She sauntered over to his table and took a seat next to him, taking yet another sip of champagne as her gaze met his. Despite his empathic ability and his nascent attempts at reality warping, it became clear to Camille that he was unable to detect her true identity. Which meant that this was going to be fun.

Daniel: "That I am. It's as much of a surprise for you as it is for me, Miss -- I'm sorry, I forgot to ask your name..?"

"Skylar Shelby....I'm building a bit of an empire for my employer in the underworld here. Thought I'd be remiss if I didn't make contact with Hellfire. I'm always looking for work and alliances. Madripoor is an extraordinarily easy place to do business. So tell me...what business do you have in Madripoor?"

 

[Longshot]

Welcome to Lowtown....

It wasn't that SImon was regretting his choice to be Daniel's bishop, he just couldn't tell if he was being manipulated by him or not. But he also realized that it could have equally been Simon's power, manipulating probability into his favor to be offered such a position out of the blue. Simon had been drawn to the cause because of The Purifier Event, something that had been organized by Hellfire, namely Kelly Shaw. He had distanced himself from both The Six and The Birds of Prey, especially after nearly dying at the hands of Ava Cassadine. During his break, he watched the news. And he was horrified. Purifier groups were popping up all over the country. So many misguided and scared people were buying into this idea of genocide. How could he possibly get in bed with the very people responsible for the growing anti mutant sentiment that was happening in the world? After Daniel's impassioned speech about the true meaning of Hellfire, Simon felt moved. It was clear that Daniel wanted to change Hellfire. It was also clear to him that Hellfire couldn't be held responsible for the actions of one person or branch. The person responsible was Kelly Shaw. Simon agreed with Maxine - Kelly needed to die. And Daniel's vision of Hellfire sounded nice. Whatever side they were on, he was on.

It didn't make Daniel any less obnoxious. He had picked up that The Red King had more than few ticks when it came to space and personal hygeine, and it was clear that being on a boat was not agreeing with him. Secretly, Simon enjoyed it. Daniel was kind of fun to see all wound up. There was an upside - Daniel became obsessed with teaching him about Hellfire. Simon learned the roles of the bishop, received pertinent intelligence, and he was also tested physically. He knew he was going to have to put in some work before he was truly filled in on Daniel's motivations, and Simon couldn't resist trying to prove himself. A few days and final exams later they had finally arrived in Madripoor. Simon had been here a few times as a boy, and he knew of many men who used the city as their prowling grounds. The city skyline was always incredible. Madripoor was a city that merged old world with cutting edge technology. There was immense wealth and abject poverty. It was a safe haven for criminals and dignitaries. Whatever he was about to get himself into, he was excited for.

The drive to The Sovereign was long, but their accommodations more than made up for it. These days Simon had a studio apartment above his failed foundations' office space. Everyday was a bitter reminder of just how ironically without luck he seemed to be. It had been so long since he had slept on a bed with 1000 thread count sheets and goose feather pillows. Not to mention the bathroom. Goddamnit he wanted to live in that bathroom. It made him remember life on the Upper East Side, missing it a bit. Then he was just a fun time playboy with a good family and an endless bank account. He did whatever he wanted, had all the time in the world to pursue his passions. That Simon hadn't seen the things he had. He couldn't have possibly gone back to living the way he did after The Purifier Event. And as he readied himself for the evening, putting on a crimson red and black hawaiian short, black shorts, and sandals. He had never felt more pedestrian and more right in his life, so he somewhat sauntered a bit down the hall into the main living area of the penthouse, greeting Domino and Discord as he entered with a smile. All was well and good until he found out he'd be going to Lowtown by himself.

"Lowtown? Like...where all the dangerous shit happens? That's where you want me?!"

Maxine: "For somebody who has luck on their side you sure sound like a pussy right now..."

Daniel: "Ughh...I loathe that word. But yes, Si. You're going to Lowtown. You have a low profile here. We need to get a handle on what the word on the street is there. Whoever is trying to use some kind of BIO TECH weapon isn't going to use the rich to do it. They'll be hiring, which means someone in Lowtown knows something...."

"But I have no idea what I'm even looking for. Or how to look for it!"

Maxine: "Exactly, so put that power of yours to use and FIND us a lead...and DON'T come back without one."

Simon cocked a bemused brow. One thing had become adundantly clear to him since joining this caper and becoming Red Bishop. Both Maxine and Daniel, and Hellfire for that matter, seemed very interested with his power, which didn't sit right to him, but it was understandable, become Simon was interested in his power as well. He had kept himself in fighting shape, and attempted a series of tests to see just how much he could actually control. It wasn't going well, and he was a bit scared to ask about the things either of them would want him to do with his power, so he kept his concerns to himself. With luck on his side it would be hard for them to figure out he didn't know at all what he was doing.

Domino: "We all have our assignments. We will meet back here at 0200. Tech sweeps here are meticulous, so we won't be com linked, but we've got sub dermal trackers from Hellfire and I've set p a makeshift hub in the dining room. If one of us runs into trouble, we'll be able to find each other...but from this moment on? We're all on our own..."

His angst about his power quickly faded with Maxine's words. He felt like he was in some kind of spy movie. Growing up, Simon had always wanted to be James Bond, and he figured tonight was his chance to become The Great Value Bond - all the looks and none of the skill.

"Should we do an all in "MARAUDERS!" on three?"

Maxine & Daniel: "No."

He was just about to head out when Daniel stopped him, smoothing his shirt and eyeing him up and down like he was admiring a possession. Simon tensed for a moment but worked to hide his worry.

Daniel: "Look, I want you to really dig into the scene here, but I want you to be smart. With my power, I'll be able to detect your emotional presence in the city. I can track you without a tracker if I need to. But hopefully I won't need to right?"

Simon was relieved to find that Daniel was actually genuinely concerned about him. Or was it. The Red King was so intentional with the way he displayed emotions. But he figured that after witnessing Daniel have a bit of an obsessive compulsive crisis on the boat, he was willing to be a bit more vulnerable with him. At least that's what Simon told himself because he wanted to believe that Daniel was in fact a good person and would help change things for mutants for the better.

"Right. I promise, Danno. I can hold my own weight. You'll see."

Discord: "I shall. See you on the other side, Longshot."

"Ditto, Discord."

And the tender moment was over as soon as it started. Suddenly Simon found himself alone. Expected to get to Lowtown with his wits. He knew he was being tested, and he was more excited than he was scared. This was the first time in months that he'd had any actual sense of purpose. A job. A task to complete. In short, he needed this. Wasting no time, Simon headed down the stairwell of the hotel, because it seemed more spy like and into the bustling downtown of Hightown Madripoor. It was modern and almost alien like in it's technology but still had the shit hole charm of The Bronx. He had been given some per diem and he figured any townie cab would be more than happy to help a naive little white boy find his way to Lowtown at triple the cost of an actual cab. Before long he had found Lowtown, and decided to get a drink at the scariest bar he could find, which was ironically called The Princess.

The Princess was crawling with creeps, freaks, and party goers. For as scary as it was, Simon was running on adrenaline. The 80's butt rock on the jukebox, the loud manly grunts of business being done. It was giving him main character energy. Making his way over to the bar, he took a seat and ordered a beer, taking a moment to try and figure out just what exactly his next fucking move was. He decided to get a better view as he walked across the floor to the lounge side of the bar, taking a seat at an empty table, becoming preoccupied with watching the women of the bar performing academy award levels of acting. Whatever was about to happen to Simon, he knew it was gonna be exciting.

 

[Wallflower]

Welcome to Lowtown

< Jun loved Madripoor at night, and she especially loved Lowtown at night. Growing up in a place like this was not easy, only the strong or the lucky survived and Jun liked to think she was both. She had to be. Not many girls had survived the experience of working in Madame Joy's brothel. But she had. A chance encounter with a client had plucked her from obscurity. When Tullamore Voge had discovered what she could do, he had to have her. So she traded one form of indentured servitude for another. Now, she didn't have to sleep with anyone she didn't want to, she just had to find people to fight in his arena, willingly or not. >

< From her new and shiny apartment in Midtown, Jun was preparing herself for an evening of scouting. Things in The Arena had gotten a bit stale, and Tull was desperate to spice things up. She knew the task was futile - he was never satisfied. He burned through mutants and mystics with incredible ease, forced them to fight until they died. But his desparation meant job security, and after everything he had given her, she was not about to back down now. >

< Sliding into her favorite pair of knee high leather stiletto boots (that matched her brand new leather skirt) she tucked her dark raven locks behind her ears. The boots had been the first splurge purchase she had made once the money from Voge started to roll in, and while she loved them, there was something about her that felt bad. All of her life, Madripoor had been a city of immense wealth and immense poverty, and Jun had always lived in the latter part of the equation. Now she had money, she had nice things, she had a new life, one that she sometimes had a hard time reconciling. Despite how much she loved Lowtown, she had left a great number of people behind. >

< Giving herself a once over in her floor to ceiling mirror panel in her bedroom, she smoothed herself out and tried to remind her that this place was survival of the fittest, and no poor bastard that might have gotten out before her would have given a second thought to helping her. They had only wanted her body. And all she had ever wanted was control over her own body. >

< A town car dropped her off at the entrance to Lowtown, though it didn't dare to take her to her final location. Jun didn't care. She loved walking the streets, smelling the smells and taking in the chaos that was Lowtown on a Friday night. All around her were street merchants selling their wears, and mysterious brooding people hiding from the law. Madripoor had a no extradition policy which meant it was a breeding ground for criminals to do what they did best. In some ways, it was like the wild west. >

"We're gonna give 'em a war...."

< A quote from one of her favorite westerns. As an orphan, before she was sold to the brothel, she had lived in an "orphanage" aka she sold things on the street for people and they gave her a place to stay, there was not much in the way of entertainment, but a stack of old VHS tapes, most of them westerns. She watched them over and over until she could repeat them line by line, always secretly hoping that one day she could be an outlaw like the men in the movies. As she walked calmly towards her destination for the evening, The Princess - Lowtown's most infamous bar, a place where business and murder were often done on the same night, in the same hour, Jun reminded herself that she had in fact become the outlaw she had wanted to be, and as she stepped into the bar, she took in the sounds and chatter of chaos and fun. >

< The usual cast of characters were there - the drunks, the rogue's guild, the criminals, and the locals, one of whom was behind the bar to which Jun's face lit up as she approached the old man wiping glasses as if they had ever truly been clean to begin with. >

[in Vietnamese] "What's a girl gotta do to get a drink in this place, Curly?"

< Curly smirked at her with glee. Jun wasn't necessarily sure she was Vietnamese, and in Madripoor being so centralized to so many different nations, there was a melding pot of different languages spoke her. Jun had no recollection of her parents, but the people who took her in spoke Vietnamese, so she did too. She had sense taught herself a number of different languages to protect herself. >

Curly: "I know what you used to do to get drinks around here, Juney. Nowadays, it takes the same as anyone else. Cold hard cash."

"Spoken like a true Lowtowner...."

< Jun smirked as she turned her back to the bar, knowing Curly would get her standard Tsingtao beer, to further confuse what her background might be and surveyed the scene. She didn't like to drink too much as she found it dampened her powers. Jun had kept her ears to the ground and it sounded like Madripoor was about to get more exciting. Something had gone down in Hellfire America, something that was scaring a lot of people here, and equally causing the streets to break out in celebration! The bar was as full as she had ever seen it, and with fresh faces. Jun knew all the faces in this town, which is why the fair haired white boy by the jukebox stuck out to her like a sore thumb. He was dressed like he was on vacation in hawaii, and despite the beads of sweat from the Madripoor heat beating down his forehead, it was clear that he was a pansy. >

Curly: "That'll be 6.50..."

< She rolled her eyes and smirked at Curly, turning to face him again as a slight pink sparkle could be seen in her eyes, a signature of her power. She felt herself release the perfect scent and watched as it enveloped Curly for a moment. After a few moments, his eyes might as well had emoji style hearts in them. >

Curly: "On second thought, this one is on the house...gorgeous."

"Oh how sweet. Remember this feeling in about twenty minutes when I need a refill..."

< She popped the top off her beer and took a swig, relaxing. There were two truths about Madripoor - it was hot as all hell, but the beer was always ice cold. She sauntered over towards the blonde man in front of her, as she leaned against the wall against the jukebox, making eye contact with him as she smiled. >

"Are you a cop?"

 

[Domino]

Madripoor - Midtown

She had been relieved to know she had left her 1951 Vincent Black Lightning in London, so she took it with her. Bobbing and weaving through the streets of Midtown, Maxine was looking for answers. She knew it was tied to Kelly, she felt it in her bones, and the closer she could get to Kelly, the closer she might be to getting Jessica back.

Making to the designated restaurant, she slid off her helmet after parking the bike right in front of the window of the restaurant with a smug satisfaction. She took a few moments to gather and compose herself before walking in, passed the host, honing in on Monica Goldsmith almost immediately.

"Sois tranquille mon coeur insensé...."

Max made a bowing gesture as Monica held out her hand for her to hold. She nodded and gave Monica a delicate kiss on the top of her hand as she took a seat across the table from her. The stakes were high and Max felt desperate, but there was always a cure for that. Maxine may have been confused about lots of different parts of herself, but one thing she knew was true - she loved women. Everything about them. Their hair, their smiles, their laughs, their voices, and she couldn't have just one. She had tried before and failed miserably. Maxine was a force of nature, she couldn't be bound to one person for too long.

Monica: "Why Max...if it isn't the one who left me stranded with my dick in the hand in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. Have a seat..."

Monica was always a doctor, but she also used to be a very, very bad girl. She used to do things just for the thrill of it, and that caused them to cross paths in a short but deeply passionate affair and crime spree all over the world. But she got soft, started to want to repent. Shortly after Max had left her for a sluttly thief from the Thieve's Guild who wanted to steal something big. All this to say, Monnie and Max had a history that didn't end pleasantly, but was full of passion.

"Why, Monica. Times change...people change....I'm not one of those people, but I'm sure you've moved on from our little...spat."

Monica: "Mmmhmm. Just keep playing nice and tell me why you wanted to meet after so long? Come to your senses."

Max eyed her statuesque neckline up and down and took in her sweet perfume. It was regretful that this was a business trip, or Domino might have been inclined to act on the chemistry that still existed between them.

"I'm always nice, mon amour. And as much as I enjoy teasing you...I must admit, I am here on business."

Monica: "That sounds more like the Maxine Dupont I know. I'm a pretty damn obscure contact though..."

Maxine smirked as a martini appeared before her and she took a quick sip.

"I wouldn't say obscure...I mean philanthropic doctor who fixes the bad guys on the side? I'd say you know a hell of lot more about what's going on in this place than most."

Monica pulled back from her a bit, leaning against the back of her chair as she took a sip of her glass of chardonnay.

Monica: "And I'm paid well for my discretion...."

"You want me to pay you for intel?"

Monica: "Oh honey, I don't want your money. I would however like to have your time. And dinner. I'm starving."

God she loved women. It was the easiest deal Maxine could see herself making in the days to come. If she had to wine and dine a woman she was already devestatingly attracted to, than so be it. She just hoped the other boys were getting as lucky as she was.

 

[Discord]

Madripoor - Hightown - Gala

Skylar: "Did I hear that introduction correctly? You are the new Red King of Hellfire?"

"Bloody fucking hell...."

He didn't need to turn around to know that it was Camille Rowe. So he wasn't as surprised to turn around to see a spunky blonde woman in front of him. She was a metamorph of the highest caliber, but for as much as she could hide her thoughts and shift her appearance, she could never hide the well of emotion that lived deep inside of her, despite her best efforts to numb those emotions with sedatives. He had never met a more tragic woman in his existence, but the idea that she had somehow survived the battle at Hellfire and was out and about in Madripoor...playing games was curious. She had to know that he would be able to sense her, or was she simply stupid? Daniel decided to play ball for a bit to see where she was coming from.

"News travels fast..."

Daniel gave a winking gesture and a cheers signal with his glass of champagne as he took a sip. He was not surprised to find that he was drinking some of the most expensive champagne their was.

"That I am. It's as much of a surprise for you as it is for me, Miss -- I'm sorry, I forgot to ask your name...?"

Skylar: "Skylar Shelby...I'm building a bit of an empire for my employer in the underworld here. Thought I'd be remiss if I didn't make contact with Hellfire. I'm always looking for work and alliances. Madripoor is an extraordinarily easy place to do business. So tell me...what business do you have in Madipoor."

"Well you certainly have an entreupenerial spirit. Tell me, what kind of business are you in?"

Skylar: "Oh this and that. Weaponry, BioTech, Secrets...all kinds of things really..."

Maybe Camille was somehow involved in recent weapon sale, or maybe she was pulling his leg. Either way, he decided to take a more direct approach.

"Perhaps you could be of use to me. But i'd like you to drop the charade..."

[taking a sip of his champagne]

"Camille."

 

[Magik]

Madripoor nights, Jet-setting!

<< London. Paris. Milan. One glamorous locale to another. No place was too far, or out of reach for the daughter of the winding way, especially now that she occupied the TOP most point of that path. >>

<< Next stop for Amanda Sefton? Madripoor!>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< After exiting the luxury private jet. We hear music , and see a montage featuring various views of the beautiful Amanda strutting in her high heels as day shifts to NIGHT; [CAMERA CLICK/FLASH!] ; Snapshots of Madripoor's glamorous night life, the energy and pulse of the bold and the beautiful, who seek glamor and excess that is truly a world apart in Madripoor.>>

<< Amanda Sefton arrives at the club, her look changed from when she arrived hours earlier.>>

<< The rules that apply in other places, even in the nightlife, don't apply here. The vibe is alluring, the energy is intoxicating. The space is full of wealthy, hot, sexy bodies, restless minds, and eager hearts.>>

<< Amanda doesn't waste time making her way in. She is greeted and immediately shown to a an Elite VIP suite that is staffed with attendants, bottle service, and other luxury amenities.>>

<< Champagne the most exquisite vintage, chilled to perfection, is available. But THAT is for mortals, and Amanda Sefton is FAR MORE than a mere mortal.>>

Hemlock.

<< She orders, as two men- both bare chest - and a woman, all of whom seem to recognize Amanda and join her in her suite. Their greeting is anything BUT casual as hands roam, skin touches, as do LIPS. The sit (more like drape over each other>> together, reveling in each other's energy and scents as they are attended by the staff. After some conversation it's time for a different kind of conversation.>>

<< CAMERA CLICK/FLASH!>>

<< Amanda is now on the dance floor with her friends, her co-conspirators. The beat pumps and drives everyone, the lights beam and flash, the disco ball spins and sparkles. The bodies move and writhe with style, rhythm, and press together with yearning and anticipation for what's in store ahead later that night.>>

<< Amanda is in the CENTER of her group as they slam down shots of their preferred drinks and dance together. Dance, grind, kiss, touch. The cycle repeats in different ways, but its all to the goal of surrending to the energy, the moment.>>

<<CAMERA CLICK/FLASH!>>

<< Much later, now back Amanda's Empathy Suite at one of the most expensive, and lurxrious hotels on the planet>>

<< Clothes are off. More drinks flow. Various substances consumed to enhance the senses, and now comes the BEST kind of conversation, BODY TALK. >>

<< Amanda Sefton (who's born name is Jimaine Szardos) is the daughter of the legendary and world renowned european stage performer, Margali Szardos. Margali is ALSO a witch queen, one of the most accomplished, deadly and powerful magick users on the planet. TONIGHT, however, AMANDA is the queen as she is serviced by her three beautiful, mysterious friends. No words, just beating hearts, breathing, touching, writhing....all under the watchful glowing eye of a low hanging MOON.>>

-----------------

<< NEXT DAY>>

<< Lavishing herself in the most luxurious, cutting edge spas, brunch, shopping, lunch, catching up with several important contacts and connections in this part of the world. Then back to her Empathy Suite for a therapeutic massage, meditation and rest.>>

<< CAMERA CLICK/FLASH>>

<< Night time in Madripoor, again>>

<< Amanda is out on the town. They say it's not safe for a young woman to travel alone, but that is not a worry for Amanda Sefton, for not only is she the daughter of an immortal witch queen, SHE is a witch herself, and she is more than capable of protecting herself, and laying waste to anyone foolish enough to try her.>>

<<But that is not on her mind right now. Tonight, it's something different. As a beautiful, glamorous, jet-setter, Amanda is immediately at home in the sleek, world class setting in downtown Madripoor. But tonight, it's time to for her to immerse herself in the true pulse, the HEARTBEAT of Madripoor's night life. Beyond the glitz and glamor of where she was last night, she is NOW in the mysterious , infamous place referred to as Low Town. >>

<< A far cry from the world class night club she was throbbing in with her sexy friends the night before, this place had an entirely different vibe, but secrets, and the knowledge that often DROVE a place like Madripoor were found in places like this. During her meditation hours earlier, she saw visions of this place, and so, here she was to check it out herself!>>

<< Inside, she moves with calm confidence, returning the gazes cast upon her, without breaking stride, she turns on her high heel to greet several men who lean against the bar with a nod and a smirk. She's friendly, but she's STILL off limits until SHE decides otherwise. >>

<< She seats herself at a table, crossing her smooth, bare legs at the knee, and getting comfortable as someone comes up to the table to get her drink order.>>

Do you have HEMLOCK?

<< the person's stoic face contorted into a look of confusion.>>

Of course not, why did I think you would. I'll have your...most popular drink.

when in rome, i suppose....

<< she could always CHANGE the drink with a minor spell if they brought her something completely ridiculous, like cheap beer. but for now, there was no need to be a DIVA.>>

<< She scans the room with her sky-blue eyes, taking it all in.>>

there's a reason I was drawn here. something...someone....

<< and soon, she realizes what...or WHOM that is.>>

<< ZOOM away from Amanda Sefton, and the view quickly "swings" around from her to face...>>

< She popped the top off her beer and took a swig, relaxing. There were two truths about Madripoor - it was hot as all hell, but the beer was always ice cold. She sauntered over towards the blonde man in front of her, as she leaned against the wall against the jukebox, making eye contact with him as she smiled. >

"Are you a cop?"

<< It wasn't the woman she recognized, but rather....>>

SIMON PRATT!

<< her finely shaped eyebrows lifted in surprise for a brief moment.>>

what was HE doing here?

<< Amanda Sefton is more than a glamorous jet-setter, or a powerful sorceress, she's ALSO a member of the Hellfire Club- London Branch, and currently regarded as a "Person of Interest" by that branch's Inner Circle, and the Lords Cardinal, definitely a member "on the way up." Her's is a LEGACY membership. Her MOTHER, the legendary witch queen, Margali Szardos, was once the Red Queen of the London Branch MANY moons ago, and she ruled her court with a iron fist. Unlike many Queens and Kings SINCE her reign, Margali was powerful, ambitious, and also very attuned to the "long game". In keeping with her savvy as an accomplished stage performer, she firmly believed in the old saying "ALWAYS LEAVE THEM WANTING MORE!" When Margali felt that her time to retire from the position of the Red Queen was at hand, she did so. Her status, her POWER was not rooted in the Hellfire Club. Her connection, her relevance, her STATURE in the magickal and occult circles of the world was far more important. MANY of in the Inner Circle of TODAY's era only know of Margali Szardos by reputation, story, legend, but they know her DAUGHTER, and Amanda has acquitted herself well in the London Branch of the Hellfire Club.>>

<< Amanda RECOGNIZED Simon Pratt, son of KRISTIN PRATT, the legendary PR guru for Diana, aka Malice, the ruthless White Queen of the Hellfire Club - AMERICAN Branch. There had been rumors, which had grown into RUMBLINGS, that...SOMETHING...had happened over there, and Malice was no longer the White Queen, and in fact presumed dead, but neither Amanda or her mother believed THAT, for they both knew Malice was an omega level telepath, with a transmorphic DIAMOND FORM, in fact, she was widely seen as the most powerful PSI on the planet. Margali had had dealings with Diana in the past. The two women respected and tolerated each other, but that was it. Margali was always up front with her daughter as she raised and taught her- not only about magicks, but about PEOPLE, and the world they lived in.>>

<< At any rate, Amanda, who was only a few years older than Simon, recognized HIM. He was something of a "black sheep" , and it was largely by CHOICE, but anytime she laid eyes on him, she always felt...sympathy? Was THIS why her impressions from her meditation lead her to come here tonight?>>

<< She received her drink, and continued to sit calmly, observing from afar. Her spells ensured that the average patron of this place would not recognize her, even IF they were aware enough to know of her by reputation or association.>>

 

[Longshot]

The Princess - Madripoor

Bombshell: "Are you a cop?"

"Jesus!"

Every muscle in Simon's body tensed as he found himself startled by the sudden arrival of a very, very attractive woman who'd just pinned herself against the wall by the jukebox. The Red Bishop (Simon also very suddenly realized that he did in fact enjoy having a fancy title) was suddenly regretting the joint he had smoked on the way over. He had been nervous, and didn't want to make too much noise. But he could have sworn that he had a higher tolerance. He instantly attempted to play it cool.

"I'm afraid so ma'am. I'm on the lookout for a very bad man. Tell me, do you know many very bad men here? You look like you know a lot of very bad men, miss --?"

Jun: "Jun. Friends call me Juney or Junebug, which I HATE, and most people spell my name with an 'e' at the end. And you are?"

Simon smirked.

"Well...she seems like a whole lot of fun...."

"Simon Pratt. I'll level with you - I'm the freshly crowned Red Bishop of Hellfire London."

Jun: "Fancy title for a fancy man, I guess...."

"What can I say, Juney? Some guys have style...and some guys don't..."

Jun: "It's certainly A style...I'll give you that..."

Simon found himself very happy to be around Jun. More happy than he should have been. He had remained friends with Cameron King since they had reunited in the city, and having worked with him in the field, he had been gifted a certain amount of knowledge in regards to creating psychic shields and how to do detect if your thoughts are being manipulated. He could tell that Jun was effecting him in some kind of way. But it wasn't her mind...it was more like....

"Her scent..."

He cocked an amused eyebrow at Jun as he down the rest of his drink.

"So what is it....pheremones? your actual scent? What is it?"

Simon bridged the gap between them, getting closer to her than he anticipated.

"Wow. You a telepath?"

Their eyes were locked. He needed to kiss her. He had to. What little control he had over his senses was beginning to leave them. And then their lips touched.

"No, but I can do cool shit, too....."

Above them, a broken, clicking ceiling fan sparked on again, as a cool breeze swept through the bar. Whatever she had done to him, it seemed to be dissappearing in the breeze.

"So what...were you gonna like rob me? Kill me? Just curious."

 

[Chameleon]

Madripoor - Uptown

Daniel: "Well you certainly have an entrepeneurial spirit. Tell me, what kind of business are you in?"

She was almost relieved to find that Daniel was still as much of a condescending ponce as he always was. If Camille were being honest with herself, it probably wasn't the best idea to be approaching the very people she knew were after Talisman. Especially considering what she was actually doing in Madripoor, but Daniel Reed had killed her. She wanted him to know it had been for nothing. Camille wanted to be above the shallow and pedantic antics of Hellfire - she simply couldn't help herself.

"Oh this and that. Weaponry, BioTech, Secrets...all kinds of things really..."

She had switched off her dampener chip just behind her necklace as she watched Daniel pieces together the puzzle as if he done it himself. The Reeds were such a smug people and Camille has happy to be rid of the whole lot of them.

Daniel: "Perhaps you could be of use to me. But i'd like you to drop the charade."

The former white queen smirked.

Daniel: "Camille."

White Queens were known for their ice, and Camille had been no exception. She had repressed the tragedy that was her life for so long she had almost suffocated it. And what she couldn't suffocate, she medicated. Daniel could have cut his own head off in front of her and she would have the same reaction.

"You killed me. I think that at least warrants you addressing me by the name I told you."

She sipped from her champagne, which was, in this moment, very sweet.

"It took you quite awhile to get that crown, boy. But I always knew you'd get it... the other thing I intend to give you...not now of course, I want to savor it...is your come uppance."

Setting the empty flute down on a white table linen, she sauntered over towards Daniel.

Daniel: "Such bitter feelings, Camille. Your Xanax can't hide you from me..."

"But it does make you less grating. So there's that, dear. Anyway - I'm going to give you a friendly piece of advice. Get out of Madripoor. You're barking up the wrong tree and you're going after people who aren't worth your time going after. Your real threat is right across the pond in the states..."

Camille knew that the best way to shame Daniel would be to make him feel stupid. To chip at his ego. At the very least, perhaps he would spent the rest of his evening washing his hands in the women's restroom. She was also however, trying to get whatever heat off Talisman and Helena that she could. Camille was thankful to have more friends amongst the rogue queens of the club. They needed to have each other's back. And perhaps, if Kelly and Helena were looking to restart The Sisterhood outside of Hellfire, well that would be nice.

"Why is your branch off chasing ghosts when it should be doing whatever it can to help rebuild your american allies? You can choose the seats at their table. This right here is a fool's errand..Or perhaps....?"

Camille gave one of her signature smiles of disapproval as she swooped another glass of champagne from a tray passer. She watched the confusion in Daniel's eyes and she often wondered what it was like to experience her when she looked like someone else. Camille's identities were ironclad in presentation and personality. She was meticulous about it. They were the only acting roles she got these days.

"The real leaders of Hellfire are busy doing just that? And those they might not want to be a part of things are sent on stupid missions for things they won't find?"

 

[Wallflower]

Madripoor - The Princess

Simon: "I'm afraid so ma'am. I'm on the lookout for a very bad man. Tell me, do you know many very bad men here? You look like you know a lot of very bad men, miss -- ?"

Jun gave Simon a smirk. Whatever this little white boy was up to, Jun wanted to know. It helped that he was cute. So she decided to mix a little business with pleasure as she began to use her power to speed up the process.

She'd always been able to do this. It was like she could see people's senses in her mind. And however she wanted someone to feel, they did. But it wasn't always sex and flowers. Jun had used her powers to kill, though it wasn't something she liked visiting in herself.

"Jun. Friends call me Juney or Junebug, which I HATE, and most people spell my name with an 'e' at the end. And you are?"

She stoked the flames a bit more with her power. He was a surprisingly resistant person, which made her wonder if he was a mutant like her.

Simon: "Simon Pratt. I'll level with you - I'm the freshly crowned Red Bishop of Hellfire London."

Bingo. He was a mutant. Which meant this really could be both business and pleasure. He could be a very handsome gladiator for the arena, depending on what he could do.

"Fancy title for a fancy man, I guess."

They exchanged jokes back and forthe as Jun weaved her cloud like, sparkling energy signature around the two of them. It was a signature that only she could see, but when she saw it, she felt like she wasn't just a mutant, that she was magick. She wasn't, but a girl could dream. She pulled him closer to her as he began to bridge the gap between them.

Simon: "So what is it...pheremones? your actual scent? What is it?"

"Damn."

Was he a telepath? Telepaths were no fun. She needed to see what this could be goldenboy could do. She flexed her power, until they were pressed against one another, both able to feel the warmth of each other's breath as they locked eyes.

"Wow. You a telepath?"

She kissed him, as a spark of static electricity sparked between their lips, jolting them both back for a moment. A delightful coincidence.

Simon: "No, but I can do cool shit too."

And then....he made a fan work? Whatever it was, it was anticlimactic and killed her power buzz as she decided to let the air settle before working her power again.

Simon: "So what...were you gonna like rob me? Kill me? Just curious."

Jun rolled her eyes.

"I don't need your money. And you're not important enough to kill."

Simon: "Then what are you looking for?"

She had stepped into a bit not stopping when she found out he was the red bishop, so she found herself with limited options. She could get him drunk on her scent long enough to see what it is he could do. If it was something valuable, she'd use her power to whammy him asleep and drag him off to Voge. If it was as stupid as what she just saw, she would have to dazzle her way out of things without him remembering who she was.

"I'm looking for a man who can do a whole lot more than make a fan do what a fan does."

Jun nodded to Curly for her next beer as she slammed her empty bottle down on the table next to Simon.

"Let me know if i'm wasting my time...officer."

 

[Domino]

Madripoor - Midtown

Monica: "I mean yeah it was great fun...but it was crazy, Max."

Maxine had forgotten how much she had enjoyed talking to Monica. She was always so vulnerable and honest and biting and...just nice to talk to. And thankfully, or so it seemed this far into dinner, she also was full of forgiveness.

"I mean crazy is relative term, mon petit. It happened to be one of the least chaotic times of my life. Either way, it's nice to see you again."

Max gave a wink as she cut into a piece of her steak, taking a bite, trying her best to remember all the ettiquette training she had gone through and spent decades unlearning. This had been a good evening and she didn't want to ruin it. It felt good to not be at the intensity she had been running in the last few days. Still, she was here for information. Not a date.

Monica: "Likewise."

"I don't mean to jump the gun, but I would like to talk about why I asked to meet with you."

Monica: "Seems like as good a time as any, hit me."

"I'm on a mission of revenge. Somebody has taken what means the most from me. A sister I didn't know that I had. I need to find her. Part of me finding her involves me tracking the sale of a biotech weapon within the last six months from a Meridian Industries. You're a healer. For both the good guys and the bad guys. I was wondering if there had been any attacks covered up. If any of your clients had mentioned anything. Basically, I...desperately need a lead. Because the people who sold that weapon have my sister."

[sighing]

"I'm so sorry for ruining the mood. But....I need help. Can you help me?"

 

[Magik]

Madripoor- Lowtown

<< Inside the bar, Amanda sat with her drink. The drink itself was not bad, and ordered another one for good measure.>>

<< All the while, she keeps her calm, steady gaze on Simon, and that mystery woman. Jun was attractive, there was a sleekness about her that made her more "polished" than some of the others in this place.>>

<< Amanda watches them as they relate, physically. Simon's body language is stiff, unsure. The woman's is forward, confident. It's clear she is a fixture here, and probably this area in general. But....>>

There is SOMETHING about her....

<< Amanda's magicks allowed her to deduce that woman's mana was...unusual. it was strong, but "reinforced" in an artificial way. one thing was clear, the woman was not a magick user. If she were, Amanda would've detected that immediately.>>

<< The question remained, why was Simon Pratt, of all people, HERE? He never was comfortable with the glamorous, jet setting life, despite the efforts his mother made, and while Amanda knew him, she never would've pictured him in a place like this, but then again, people wouldn't expect HER to be here either.>>

<< Her mother had taught her, long ago, to never perceive herself as being ABOVE anyone. It was one of the tenents of the winding way. one could never TRULY know what someone had to offer, or what their potential was, just by looking at them, or because of their circumstances in life. Her mother ALSO taught her to observe and listen. People wear masks that are not always physical.>>

<< Some people also play GAMES.>>

Simon: "So what...were you gonna like rob me? Kill me? Just curious."

Jun rolled her eyes.

"I don't need your money. And you're not important enough to kill."

Simon: "Then what are you looking for?"

She had stepped into a bit not stopping when she found out he was the red bishop, so she found herself with limited options. She could get him drunk on her scent long enough to see what it is he could do. If it was something valuable, she'd use her power to whammy him asleep and drag him off to Voge. If it was as stupid as what she just saw, she would have to dazzle her way out of things without him remembering who she was.

"I'm looking for a man who can do a whole lot more than make a fan do what a fan does."

Jun nodded to Curly for her next beer as she slammed her empty bottle down on the table next to Simon.

"Let me know if i'm wasting my time...officer."

<< Amanda kept her sky blue eyes fixed on Jun, her spells made sure no one would notice her, but SHE noticed that Jun was acting like she was on...>>

...a HUNT....

<< Maybe she was just looking for what any other beautiful person was looking for in the beautiful night, or maybe it was...something else.>>

<< Poor simon never was the best judge of character, that's how he wound up dating that bloody sociopath, Ava Cassadine, a while back. The rumblings about THAT were heard all over high society, even across the pond, as Cassadine was a figure of tremendous infamy>>

<< Amanda realized that Simon WAS the reason she was drawn here, of all places. She "saw" him during her meditation time in her Empathy Suite. In keeping with the teachings of her mother, and the traditions she came from, helping those who were lost and vulnerable was another core tenet of her personal belief system. >>

<< Simon was in trouble, or he was ABOUT to be, and that mystery woman could have something to do with it. >>

<< But Jun had no idea she was being watched. Even if she laid eyes on Amanda, she'd not recognize her. >>

 

[Discord]

Madripoor - Hightown

Camille: "You killed me. I think that at least warrants you addressing me by the name I told you."

Daniel smirked with icy satisfaction as he took a sip of his drink, eyeing the woman up and down. Camille had no tells in her many shifted forms. Whatever she was shifting into, she became.

"Forgive me, i'm afraid that i'm a bit rusty in communicating with ghosts. What could somebody like you possibly be doing in Madripoor?"

He reached out with his empathy, able to perceive Camille's strongest feelings and for whom those feelings belonged to. Talisman.

Camille: "It took you quite awhile to get that crown, boy. But I always knew that you'd get it...the other thing I intend to give you...not now of course, I want to savor it...is your come uppance."

Daniel feigned laughter so she would feel as pathetic as she truly was. Whatever Kelly had done to her, it had to have been worth it. Camille at one time was a very conniving and captivating woman. But when she lost Liam's eye, thanks in large part to her pill addiction, she lost her shine and clung to the more mundane tasks of Hellfire. Such as event planning, and house operations.

"Such bitter feelings. Your Xanax can't hide you from me..."

Camille: "But it does make you less grating. So there's that, dear. Anyway - I'm going to give you a friendly piece of advice. Get out of Madripoor. You're barking up the wrong tree and you're going after people who aren't worth your time going after. Your real threat is right across the pond in the states..."

His face remained like a stone scuplture as he peered back at her, unamused by her words. Perhaps she missed the intellectual back and forths, the barbs, the digs. It was unfortunate for Camille that she had just poked a bear she was not prepared to deal with.

""Camille, if anyone cared for your advice with regards to Hellfire, we wouldn't have killed you. But go on.."

Camille: "Why is your branch off chasing ghosts when it should be doing whatever it can to help rebuild your american allies? You can choose the seats at their table. This right here is a fool's errand...Or perhaps? ...The real leaders of Hellfire are busy doing just that? And those they might not want to be a part of things are sent on stupid missions for things they won't find."

"Oh, but I've already found so much..you for instance. Rebuilt it seems in the image of Talisman - a woman who's positioning herself at the top of everybody's kill list? I mean, you can't possibly think i'm letting you walk out of this room a free woman do you?"

The Red King took an uninterested sip of his drink before continuing.

"I am a freshly crowned man. Killing you was a matter of pride for me. It was one of the more interesting bullet points on my resume to be king. If others should find out you are alive...well that could certainly tarnish my reputation..."

Killing her was the only clout he had from the rebellion, and he didn't want to lose it. But he had to think about the safety of the entire club, not his own personal feelings, which rest assured were to kill her again.

"Then again , you've probably spilled a lot of secrets about us to Talisman, haven't you dear? Maybe you're more valuable to the inner circle alive? I don't know."

He began to move towards her.

"What I do know is that I have entertained this conversation out of pity, and while it has proved rather interesting, I grow tired of entertaining a woman who can never be happy. So...my only question is - do you plan to go willingly..or would you like to fight for it?"

 

[Longshot]

Madripoor - The Princess Bar - Lowtown

She insisted she didn't need his money and that he was not important enough to be killed. Both counts he decided would be in his best interest to believe. Perhaps this was just some kind of burnout killing time in Lowtown, but there had to be a reason she approached him like a sex kitten to begin with.

Jun: "I'm looking for a man who can do a whole lot more than make a fan do what a fan does."

Simon rolled his eyes as Jun slammed her empty beer down on the table and called for another.

Jun: "Let me know if i'm wasting my time...officer..."

She returned to her succubus like charm. She was interested in his power. He had heard tales of actual mutant trafficking and he was beginning to wonder if he might have just found himself the very target of that. He decided to play it cool. He wasn't going to get any more information from her if he didn't at least pretend to play ball.

"Time with me is never time wasted, sweets - despite what a number of women on the upper east side might have to say..."

Simon took another sip of his drink and wiped his lip on his forearm as he gave her a smile. His eyes began to glow their signature electric pale green.

"Some people are nukes, some people are scalpels...me? I'm lucky. Very very lucky. So lucky in fact..."

At that very moment a man near him stumbled over sending his drink glasses high into the air, heading straight for both Simon and Jun until they managed to land miraculously upright on the table next to him.

"That I don't have to go to the bar for drinks.."

He hadn't planned on his next drink being bourbon but he was feeling alive. All of this social espionage was kinda fun for a guy like Simon, or at the very least it made him forget the well of shit he was dealing with in his personal life. He had still not made contact with his mother. He took a sip from his newly refreshed drink, felt a few chest hairs grow, and continued on.

"My power isn't so active...it's a bit fight or flight. Works best under pressure..."

Simon did not like the look that Jun had just given him or his choice of words just now.

 

[Domino]

Madripoor - Midtown

Monica: "Jesus, Max. Of course. I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was so...important to you. And here you've gone letting me act like such a fool all night."

Maxing pursed her lips and placed her hand on Monica's from across the table.

"It has been so long since I have seen you in your full glory, Mon. You are a goddess not a fool."

Monica: "Oh that ship has sailed, Lumiere. But I think I know your guy. I've been doing some work for some more major crimelords in the city. Mostly just patch up jobs, but i've heard a lot of talk. They thought Hellfire was setting up shop here. Which wouldn't be crazy, this place is lousy with Hellfire business. But they were saying someone from Hellfire had arrived in town and was throwing all kinds of money and supplies at this place..."

Maxine watched as Monica pulled out her phone and began to type away furiously.

Monica: "Thankfully for me, because i'm not stupid, I record all of my sessions. Every procedure, every single consultation I have with anyone in this city who is under the table. Nobody burns me, I don't burn them.

She felt her phone vibrate from within her pants pocket, alerting her that Monica had in fact just sent over relative recordings.

Monica: "However, recently, somebody decided to mess with my turf, and I have a feeling it's the same person you're looking for."

Monica faced her phone to show Maxine the face of Hellfire operating in Madripoor. Talisman.

"Goddamn you're good, Mon. That's exactly who i'm looking for. Now where the hell can I find her?"

Monica: "You'll have to let me know. And when you do find her, you'll have to let me know, because I plan on being the one to end her life....children, Maxine. She took children from Lowtown. Several of my regular, YOUNG patients at my clinic there have gone missing. All of them mutant. These were good kids, many of whom here working under Tollimer Voge, one of the bigger crimelords. Supposedly she gave him a weapon so good he was willing to give her his people in return...I don't know what she wants with those kids, Max, but I know it ain't good."

"Bloody christ..."

Kelly had been trying to get her hands on children in New York as well, before she was shut down by The Birds of Prey. Clearly, she had not stopped trying. This information simply lit a fire under Maxine's ass. She would not let anything else happen to Jessica, Alek OR these children. It was as simple as that.

"You've given me exactly what I was looking for, Monica. Again. I would love to spend the night sipping champagne and living between your legs...but I have work to do. But believe me, I do plan on repaying the kindness you just bestowed upon me. In good time."

Maxine and Monica rose from their feet and embraced, Domino taking in her light floral scent and clean hair as she squeezed her former lover tightly. She had made a lot of mistakes when it came to women, but Monica had not been one.

Monica: "Next time? Come see me just because you want to come see me."

"I promise."

They gave each other a slow and delicate, romantic but brief kiss as they made their way out of the restaurant. She wanted to relay this information to Daniel. He was the best suited to figure out where Kelly might be if she had a base of operations in Madripoor. Shaking her feelings away, she slid on her helmet and began a brilliant and fast speed path towards Daniel in Uptown.

 

[Chameleon]

Madipoor - Uptown

Daniel: "Oh, but i've alrady found so much...you for instance. Rebuilt it seems in the image of Talisman - a woman who's positioning herself at the top of everybody's kill list? I mean, you can't possibly think i'm letting you walk out of this room a free woman do you?"

"Let me be clear, Daniel. You don't LET me do anything."

Daniel: "I am a freshly crowned man. Killing you was a matter of pride for me. It was one of the more interesting bullet points on my resume to be king. If others should find out you are alive...well that could certainly tarnish my reputation..."

"The Reeds haven't mattered in eons. And anything they did contribute has long been forgotten. As king, you do have a lot to worry about, but let me assure you, you have no reputation to ruin."

Camille was above Hellfire now. And she was different than before. This Camille wanted to live. She also found herself starting to want people know she was alive again.

Daniel: "Then again, you've probably spilled a lot of secrets about us to Talisman, haven't you dear? Maybe you're more valuable to the inner circle alive? I don't know."

"One thing among many you don't know, dear."

Daniel: "What I do know is that I have entertained this conversation out of pity, and while it has proved rather interesting, I grow tired of entertaining a woman who can never be happy. So...my only questions is - do you plan to go willingly...or would you like to fight for it."

Camille laughed softly. Daniel was very powerful, but Camille was not easy prey. He hadn't simply sought her out, challenged her, and defeated her. She had died from a concerted effort of them all. He simply got the kill shot.

"I would not want to embarrass the newly crowned Red King so soon after he takes the throne, so I will restrain myself, Daniel. But this is a one time act of generosity. You will get no more from me moving forward. I warned you."

" Whatever is going on in your little club, it's rather clear - everything has gone to shite. You give yourself so much credit, Reed. But you were a spare. Someone we only kept on the courts because of their last name. You were always going to be an emergency appointment. You would only take the throne should there simply be no other options. It is comforting to know that Hellfire is running out of options..."

Camille clicked the back of her necklace, reactivating the power dampener she had dialed down earlier. Daniel would not be able to use his powers, and though she wasn't underestimating the boy, she was fairly sure she could easily bend him over her knee and give him a proper lashing.

"I will neither surrender, nor fight with you, Daniel Reed. Because I am no longer bound to your rules. Hellfire is dying. You can either survive, or be one of it's many victims. And take it from me, there is nothing worse than to die as one of it's victims..."

The former white queen used to believe she died in shame. But then she realized, despite what the others thought, her and Rebecca were trying to move the club forward, trying to move it SOMEWHERE. Despite how badly it had failed, this revolution...this had been something that had started with her and Crimson and their desperate need to shuffle the board.

She had given him enough. Quickly, she clicked back into her Skylar persona. Daniel had no standing here, and she had security at every conceivable point it made sense to.

"Well, congratulations again, your highness. I certainly hope we can work together in the days to come. You never know who you might end up trusting. I'll be in touch."

Camille took a deep breath as she began to walk through the main ballroom area, hearing the annoying feedback of motorcycle exhaust in the distance that could only belong to Domino. Camille had spoken her peace, and that was enough. Daniel wouldn't attack, and couldn't in the way he wanted to thanks to her tech, She made her way through the ballroom, into the back kitchen and through the janitorial services hall, before swiftly entering a black town car that was already waiting for her. It was clear they had been making too much news in Madripoor, and Talisman needed to know.

 

[Wallflower]

Madripoor - The Princess Bar - Lowtown

He insisted that any time with him wasn't spent wasted, to which she promptly rolled her eyes. She had heard an endless amount of bullshit from men over the years, to the point of which it was hard for her to take anything they said seriously. In her experience men were good for one thing - draining the resources of the brighter, more feminine flowers around them.

Simon: "Some people are nukes, some people are scalpels...me? I'm lucky. Very very lucky. So lucky in fact.."

At the very moment a man behind him began to stumble through the crowded floor before tripping completely and falling forward, his drinks falling out of his hands and being launched in their exact direction. However, all ended well as the drinks ended up right and still full, for the most part. Jun was intrigued. He was lucky? How lucky? How did it work? But mostly, she was thinking....

"Voge is gonna love him..."

Simon: "That I don't have to go to the bar for drinks.."

"So your mutant power is something women have already known how to do for decades?"

She furrowed her brow.

"And I don't drink hard liquor, hot stuff. Dulls the senses."

Simon: "My power isn't so active...it's a bit flight or fight. Works best under pressure."

"Bingo."

Jun was getting a bit bored of the back and forth. If this were a western she would have torched the town by now. And you know what? It was Friday night and she wanted to feel alive. And what better way to feel alive than to beat a little flesh?

"Say no more, handsome."

Weaving her power, the sparkling, fairy dust like psionic energy she exuded when warping the pheromones around her could be seen, again only to her. Simon might have increased circulation, but she was no novice. She could certainly create a cloud of intention stronger than a ceiling fan. So she did. She watched as traces of her power pulsed and circulated throughout the bar, penetrating the noses of many of mustached face. They would smell her sweetness, and then...they would be very, very angry. Angry enough to fight.

"Now let's see what you can do."

She snapped her fingers as the entire bar flared up in a brawl that was typical for a Friday night in Lowtown, but exciting none the less. She weaved her web, guiding prospects to Simon to see how he responded. He was surprisingly nimble, pulling some kind of mechanical sheathed sword from his pocket and wielding it with ease. He wasn't slicing people to death, but merely claiming space for himself, his eyes glowing a beautiful pale green. She watched as he somehow dodged every blow, ducked just before he was hit, moved through the battlefield with ease and precision because it was almost...ordained for him to. However passive he thought this power, it would be a delicious addition to The Arena.

[to Simon] "You are lucky, kid.. And I find that..."

She maneuvered he way into him, their bodies collided before wrapping around each other. She peered at him as her body began to get clobbered by the mob around her fighting. She hissed with contempt. Anytime things got tense like this...she shifted. And she hated it. All at once, Scales and scale plates began to appear all around Jun's body and face and her eyes shifted into a snake like form of bright yellow. Whenever she felt threatened, this side had come out of here, and boy was she hard to control. But she had no choice, she needed to get Simon out of here and snap a collar on him.

"Very, very HOT."

In an instant, he was out cold. His senses overwhelmed. Thankfully she was close to an exit. She dragged him through the crowd with ease, as she made haste towards a back exit, throwing him into a car that was waiting for her. As she sat in the town car, she closed her eyes, gathering herself. Slowly but surely, she felt herself shifting back into her more human form. She thought Simon was going to be cocktail fodder until her night really started, but he had proven himself a worthy bounty. Voge would be pleased, and Jun would secure her future for another few months. Her car disappeared in the skyline as the night thickened in Lowtown.

 

[Magik]

Madripoor - The Princess Bar - Lowtown
<< Amanda Sefton's sky blue eyes continue to remain fixed on Jun and Simon Pratt. He really was the lost soul that her magicks had detected.>>


<< She took another drink...>>

<< VERTICLE SPLIT SCREEN view with Amanda's Sefton's sky blue eyes on top panel, June and Simon's mouths (as they faced one another on the bottom panel>>

"Say no more, handsome."

Weaving her power, the sparkling, fairy dust like psionic energy she exuded when warping the pheromones around her could be seen, again only to her. Simon might have increased circulation, but she was no novice. She could certainly create a cloud of intention stronger than a ceiling fan. So she did. She watched as traces of her power pulsed and circulated throughout the bar, penetrating the noses of many of mustached face. They would smell her sweetness, and then...they would be very, very angry. Angry enough to fight.

"Now let's see what you can do."

<<FLASH!>>

<< Amanda's brow lifts and her sky blue eyes widen. Something's WRONG.>>

<<Jun's power signature activates>>

<< ZOOM away from Jun and Simon>>

She snapped her fingers as the entire bar flared up in a brawl that was typical for a Friday night in Lowtown, but exciting none the less. She weaved her web, guiding prospects to Simon to see how he responded. He was surprisingly nimble, pulling some kind of mechanical sheathed sword from his pocket and wielding it with ease. He wasn't slicing people to death, but merely claiming space for himself, his eyes glowing a beautiful pale green. She watched as he somehow dodged every blow, ducked just before he was hit, moved through the battlefield with ease and precision because it was almost...ordained for him to. However passive he thought this power, it would be a delicious addition to The Arena.

[to Simon] "You are lucky, kid.. And I find that..."

She maneuvered he way into him, their bodies collided before wrapping around each other. She peered at him as her body began to get clobbered by the mob around her fighting. She hissed with contempt. Anytime things got tense like this...she shifted. And she hated it. All at once, Scales and scale plates began to appear all around Jun's body and face and her eyes shifted into a snake like form of bright yellow. Whenever she felt threatened, this side had come out of here, and boy was she hard to control. But she had no choice, she needed to get Simon out of here and snap a collar on him.

"Very, very HOT."

In an instant, he was out cold. His senses overwhelmed. Thankfully she was close to an exit. She dragged him through the crowd with ease, as she made haste towards a back exit, throwing him into a car that was waiting for her. As she sat in the town car, she closed her eyes, gathering herself. Slowly but surely, she felt herself shifting back into her more human form. She thought Simon was going to be cocktail fodder until her night really started, but he had proven himself a worthy bounty. Voge would be pleased, and Jun would secure her future for another few months. Her car disappeared in the skyline as the night thickened in Lowtown.

<< Amanda's spells and personal mystical barriers protected HER, but all around her? CHAOS, as the bar ERUPTED into a bar brawl of epic proportions. Amanda's suspicions about this mystery woman were RIGHT! >>

SHE did this!

<< Amanda flew out of her seat, as she saw Jun's form shift, and she lunged at, wrapped herself around Simon. But then Amanda's view was IMMEDIATELY obscured by a woman who was charging right for her, ready to attack. The woman was screaming as if she was a warrior on the battle field. Amanda tried not to laugh right in her face. >>

Some other time!

<< Amanda said with a smirk, as she DISAPPEARED, letting the woman SLAM/FACE PLANT into the wall behind them.>>

<< Amanda's care free laugh could be heard BEFORE she suddenly REAPPEARED, watching the woman slide down to the floor, having just knocked HERSELF out.>>

I can't say that I'd love to stay and play, this really isn't MY idea of fun!

<< She quickly looks around, moving forward, and dodging randomly flying objects, hands, kicks, colliding bodies.>>

I've got someone in particular I DO need to catch, though!

<< as she deftly spins out of the way of a giant drunken sailor's falling body, and as he crashes into a table, smashing it down to the floor. Chimes sound off, and a flowing trail of sky blue orbs follows around Amanda in her spin, as she transforms into a flying, GLOWING ORB of magick, and she then ZOOMS out of the bar's back entrance, immediately hovering over the car Jun had collected Simon into.>>

<< sigh!>> Oh Simon, you naïve man, when will you learn not to wander along dark paths when you can BARELY find your own way in the LIGHT??

<< Amanda thought, as she now FOLLOWED the speeding car, easily able to keep up with it as she followed it turn-by-turn on it's hurried journey. Jun had no idea she was being followed, as Amanda traveled along/above the car in her orb form. >>

I better ignite a cloaking spell too, just to make SURE....

<< The car, AND Amanda zoom off into the night.>>