The Blackout Party

[Nogitsune]

The Hellfire Mansion

Bored now.

The blonde woman turned out to be the Queen’s daughter, which meant that Heidi wasn’t going to spear her with her giant fork, which meant that Emi lost interest real quick. She DID like Helena’s earrings though.

She slid down off the bar and stepped lightly around the crowd that had gathered in the parlour. There was a lot of talking, which she only half listened to as she slipped out the door. The initial rush of chaos Scion’s arrival had created quickly dissipated, leaving Emi wanting more.

The others would catch up. Not that she cared. As she moved through the crowd back in the ballroom, she bumped into a woman wearing the cost of a small nation in jewelry. Without even thinking about it, she had relieved the woman of a wide diamond bracelet, and dropped it into the man in front of her’s tuxedo jacket pocket. But that was small potatoes. She needed more…

And then she saw Gorgon speaking to Mockingbird. And she smiled devilishly.

She began to weave an illusion, of a girl, small and dark haired, one of The Six – Ruby. He would just catch a glimpse at first, a split second before she was hidden by the crowd. Then again, and again. Never close enough to touch, to be really sure. Here one minute, there the next. And then she locked eyes with him…

But it was time to do the whole showy show thing, so Emiko made her way to the balcony, sidling up behind Scion and whispering as she took her place.

“Watch out for Heidi…she thinks she’s the daughter the White Queen never had…”

 

[Talisman]

The Hellfire Club - Ready to Begin...

< Scion would not shut up, and at this point Kelly Shaw had stopped listening. She wouldn't allow some little girl who had stumbled upon royalty disparage her any longer. Her words meant nothing because there was nothing truly there to back it up. She was on a high because she thought her lineage to Diana and her tenure with The Six somehow made her untouchable. She was not. It was in this moment, watching Haleigh enjoy and be comforted by the smell of her own flatulence that Talisman began to see the value that Scion might hold for her personally. Haleigh could represent an added layer of security for her, if she played her cards just right, and Kelly Shaw had no doubt that she could. She had to admit, she was curious about the woman's relationship with Cameron and it's depth. If Scion wanted to play with the big girls, degrade Talisman's intelligence and skill, then so be it. It would just make the payoff that much sweeter. With bonus points if that payoff is at a deep personal and emotional cost to her. >

"My buzz is about to wear off."

< She was over this conversation. She had come up with a insurance policy should Scion step out of line and come up with a plan with how to use Haleigh to her benefit should she be allowed to stay. That was about as much as she wanted to think about that. There were FAR more important things to focus her energy on, like tonight's event. Thankfully Kristen arrived just as things might have taken a turn for the worst. Obviously, Diana had all of her ducks in a row tonight. Kelly was grateful for the distraction. >

Malice: "You walked a very thin line, Talisman, but you're not one to shy away from risky, even taboo things. And your subtle shift in behavior as of late has not gone unnoticed. Let us hope that you don't REGRESS out of some misguided impulse TONIGHT."

< Kelly smiled. >

"The girl still lives so it should be clear by now my impulses are well under control. There will be no more problems from ME tonight, rest assured. Now I'm feeling clasterophobic in this room. Too much taffata. Let's make haste."

Malice: "Let us go....before anyone ELSE decides to show up."

"I'll get the ouija board out later. See who we can conjure up."

< The queens made their way towards the balcony as the queens stood front and center, Helena and Kelly flanking either side of Diana with their courts in tow. She put her hand on Amanda's back warmly as she watched the girl take in the moment. She spoke softly >

"This is your night, Amanda. And your gift. We may be celebrating The White King...and now I suppose The White Princess, but my eyes...shall be on you. Do not forget this moment. It is where our work together truly begins."

 

[Mockingbird]

Hellfire Club - Blackout Party

:: It was an interesting thing, watching Haleigh Davidoff prepare for a "red wedding" of sorts. She could see a sense about the woman that resonated deeply with Kristen. Many years before, she had been in a very similar situation. She made a choice to sell her soul in order to protect her legacy. She knew exactly what she was doing and she did it anyway, because it was the only way to save the people that she cared about. If Haleigh had been a little more open, Kristen might have wanted to have given the girl a little advice on what was come, and Kristin didn't do favors for mutants lightly. She had been at peace with her feeling that mutants should be exponged from the planet for quite some time, and thankfully for her, they seemed hell bent on destroying each OTHER. It was one thing she rationalized about her work with Diana. She was essentially helping to destroy the mutant population from the inside out. Still, she felt as if she should say something. Saying you are going to work for Diana is one thing, surviving it was quite another. But it was too soon to get so comfortable. ::

:: While Kristen normally had a large and professional glamour squad at her employ, tonight, the staff was limited to just a few, with Kristen taking charge of the overall styling, another underrated skill people often overlooked. This was one of her many talents. Kristen knew how to create an image for somebody that was both strong, soft and memorable. And sometimes? Looks were all that could get you through that door. ::

"Pout your lips for me, would you."

:: Kristen applied the lipstick, looking the girl in the eyes for a moment, before continuing to work on Haleigh. ::

"It took some brass balls, you know...to do what you did tonight. Busting in, setting off all the alarms. Mouthing off to everyone in attendance. It was smart."

:: Smirking ::

"I'm sure your appearance will give them things to bicker about for a few weeks at least."

:: putting down the tube of lipstick ::

"There. All done. Now I know Ravena is conjuring a dress for you...I know, I know...ritual and ceremony, power without consequence, all that..but if I were you, if I were walking into a room with people for the first time, well dear, i'd want it to be in Dior. Right Alice?"

:: Kristen looked at Alice who looked ravishing this evening. She had known the women when she first arrived on the steps of the manor, a young and gifted woman who's work deserved praise. She had been dispatched to give Alice a suitable professional image and style that would make the others take notice. She had succeeded and Alice took that small gesture and created quite a comfortable path for herself. She was a kindred spirit so to speak. ::

:: Haleigh went forward with the dress that Lord Ravena had conjured. Politically, that was probably for the best. Her short and wispy hair stylized in a glamorous and edgy way, Kristen's makeup complimented the dress perfectly. She had done her part, and now it was time to lead Haleigh towards the other members of The Inner Circle and watch the dawn of a new era be born. ::

:: Taking her cue, she nodded to The White Queen and made her way to the opera box, taking a seat next to Gorgon. ::

Gorgon: "I have to say, I had my doubts about all of this, but after what I just witnessed in the parlor room? I'm a little excited to interact with this motley crew of cheeky bastards. Perhaps this is where I am supposed to be..."

:: Kristen smirked. ::

"Well, I didn't bring you here just for show, handsome. I knew what I was doing, and by the way you are salivating at the sight of The Black Queen, I feel confident in confirming my opinion that you are the perfect fit as Black Bishop of The Inner Circle. Now all you have to do, is convince Kelly, and you're in. There's just one thing I forgot to mention.."

[leaning in]

"Talisman can't know that I am the one who recruited you. I need for you to make this appear organic."

Gorgon: "And why is that exactly?"

"Well..i'm afraid that information is a little bit above your paygrade. But outside of that..if Kelly Shaw knows that you have come here as my guest and by proxy a guest of Diana, she won't receive you warmly, and you won't have any ins."

Gorgon: "So i'll have to start off lying to her. History repeats itself, I guess."

:: Kristen laughed and rolled her eyes for a moment, grabbing a fresh glass from a waiter passing by. ::

"Oh Benjamin, it's light espionage at best. Surely, a little white lie to The Black Queen is worth it if it gives you what you want."

:: taking a sip ::

"For now, let's cheers to things getting a lot more interesting."

:: Winking she clinked her glass next to Benjamin's and took a long sip. ::

 

[Persephone]

FLASH

"I have to go."

Their hug lingered a moment longer before Alison pulled away from Ava. She could see in the precog's eyes that even though she didn't approve of what Ava was about to do, Alison understood it.

Alison: "Be careful."

"I always am."

Alison: "I'm serious, Ava. I see this going one of two ways...."

"I'll be fine. But....I know they won't after everything that just happened. Please explain to them why I had to do this."

Alison gave Ava's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Alison: "I will. Just take care of yourself, and know i'll be there in a BLINK of an eye if you need ANYTHING."

A moment of silence fills the room before Ava nods to her friend.

"Thank you."

FLASH

Extending her invitation out to the doorman, he looked over the beautifully embossed scripture:

Hellfire Club Member
AVA CASSADINE

The Hellfire Club Requests the Honor of Your Presents for the Sixteenth Annual
BLACKOUT PARTY
Saturday The Twenty Eighth of January
Two Thousand Seventeen
Eight O'Clock in the Evening

Black Tie Attire Required

The doorman lifted his eyes back to Ava giving her a once over. She was dressed beautifully in an elegant black dress with her chocolate locks tied back into a loose low bun with pieces framing her face. Her eyes were smokey black and lips glossy and nude. The doorman smiled at her while handing her back her invitation.

Doorman: "Good evening Miss Cassadine. Please enjoy the festivities."

Nodding to him, Ava slipped the invitation back into her black clutch as she walked into the Hellfire Club. One of the benefits of having the Cassadine name was that she was a life long member of the Hellfire Club, which allowed her access to any and all events despite her ties to The Six. But the Blackout Party wasn't just any event, it was THE event. This was the event Dominique debuted as Black Queen, and no doubt this would be where the new Inner Circle--including Haleigh--would debut.

The hallway was empty leading to the grand ballroom, only a few ushers carrying trays of champagne could be seen walking around. Grabbing a glass off a passing tray, Ava downed the flute of bubbly liquid in one swift gulp, discarding the glass on a nearby table as she approached the main doors. Cracking the large wooden doors open, the entire ballroom was FILLED with Hellfire Club members making it easy for her to slip in unnoticed behind the crowd of people. She moved to a dark corner enshrouded with large plants, her eyes lifting to the balcony as people began to fill it. She saw both woman and men dressed in the different colors of the courts, but she didn't recognize or care about any of them. Then finally, she saw someone she DID recognize: Helena. The woman moved immediately to the right of the balcony followed by another woman dressed in black who moved to the left. That must of been Kelly. She had Alison's cobalt eyes, there was no denying that. And then, between both the Red and Black Queens, Diana took her place in the middle.

Narrowing her smokey eyes, Ava STILL couldn't believe that Haleigh was Diana's daughter....it sent such a surge of anger and resentment throughout Ava, it took everything in her NOT to drop at tornado on her arrogant ass. But her anger was soon stifled at the sight of Haleigh--dressed to the nines--who moved up beside Diana. Her eyes softened seeing her up there...it was surreal. She looked like she FIT with them. That she BELONGED up there. Haleigh always struggled with her humanity, or lack there of. It was something they had in common. As Persephone, she lived the majority of her life with a power without consequence attitude, and it wasn't until The Six that she changed her tune. But she always struggled with it--with her darkside. The side that so easily killed an alley [Mike]. The side that Karen still feared would come out, made evident that evening. So as she stared up at her sister, standing along side her new team, Ava remained quiet....watching....listening....and waiting.

 

[Malice]

Hellfire Club- The Blackout Party- Double Coronation

:: The time had come. Mockingbird would have one last task to fullfill. Her's was to be the "unseen" announcer's voice, calling for everyone's silence and attention.::

:: And as the Inner Circle was now fully assembled in shadow on the dais, Kristen Pratt's voice was heard all around the Lunar Ballroom.::

Mockingbird: Ladies and gentleman, royal members, distinguished guests, your ATTENTION PLEASE. :: the buzz around the lunar ballroom fell silent. All eyes, ears and minds were focused on the sound of Kristen's voice::

Mockingbird: It is with great pleasure that i present to you, the crown jewels of the Hellfire Club, their excellencies, The Black Queen...

:: The light reveals Talisman in her black ensemble::

The Red Queen....

:: The light reveals Enchantrah in her red ensemble::

and finally...Her majesty, The White Queen!

:: The light reveals Malice in her white ensemble.::

:: Malice stands posed, with a look of elegant disdain on her face. Enchantrah and Talisman standing front and center with her, also posed and with looks on their faces. There's a shadowed figure between Malice and each of the two queens.::

:: By this time, Ava Cassadine had managed to slip in to the Hellfire Mansion, and easily gained access, being that she inherited a life time membership to the club from her father, Stavros, and enjoyed the same VIP status as Sharon Kelly, but the goddess made herself inconspicuous, taking to a darkened corner of the Lunar Ballroom, standing slightly behind a large potted plant. Now SHE, like Sharon, was in attendance, but UNLIKE Sharon, Ava knew what...or WHOM was about to be revealed on that dais.::

Mockingbird: WITH their SPECIAL GUESTS OF HONOR, Lord Ravena...

:: The light reveals Lord Ravena, standing in all his handsome glory, next to Malice::

Mockingbird: AND Miss Haleigh Davidoff.

:: As the assembled Hellfire Club clapped, Kristen herself managed to slip into the Opera Box and seat herself next to Benjamin.::

:: Malice lifts her hands, gesturing for silence, and as she begins to speak, her voice and it's haunting resonance can be heard all around the Lunar Ballroom.::

Members of the hellfire club, distinguished and honored guests

::FLASH!::

<< A view of Maxine Dupont, Sharon Kelly, Alice, Jessica Marcus, Kristen Pratt, Benjamin Lewis...and THEN, Ava Cassadine.>>

WELCOME... to a most time honored TRADITION, that only the UPPER echelon would even be invited to.

This is night were exclusive takes on a whole new meaning.

If you are HERE among us, consider yourselves BEYOND successful. Consider yourselves part of a mandate...a DESTINY to SHAPE the world around you.

But remember...every RULER has to balance WORK with PLAY...and PLAY comes in many forms. Here in these walls, the RULES and conventions of the normal...ORDINARY society OUTSIDE do NOT apply. This is a night of glamor, excess, DECADENCE, and it is NOT for the faint of heart.

We in this ballroom have something the outsiders do not. we have power, we have status, we have privilage from our backgrounds, our positions in life and other..."advantages" (a subtle nod to those among th em with mutant or metahuman abilities). but tonight is a night for truly exploring and reveling in LUXURY with uncaring abandon. The Blackout is where what happens within the Hellfire Mansion, STAYS within the hellfire mansion. You all know the code, and what happens if it is broken.

:: Claps, cheers, whistles, hollers, all signs of gleeful agreement and anticipation can be heard.::

But before we "BLACKOUT", I want to draw your attention to the Hellfire Club's INNER CIRCLE.

:: the lights reveal Fathom, Nogitsune, and Cobra, each standing in their proper places, and posed.::

We've had some CHANGES since the LAST Blackout, and while transition can sometimes be uncertain, especially when a QUEEN inexplicably chooses to DESERT her post, ABANDON those that she represents...

:: a not so subtle dig at Dominique Deveraux, the FORMER Black Queen.::

:: Boos and sounds of disapproval could be heard at mere reference to Dominique. But there were some in attendance who still viewed her favorably- namely Alice, Ava and Haleigh!::

:: Diana couldn't help but smirk. Dominique was such a snob that even DIANA sometimes found herself STRUGGLING to deal with her, but now, the woman's name was reviled, even in a place of INFAMY like this!::

:: After a few moments, Malice nods with understanding, and lifts her hand, signaling for silence once again::

.... with every shift and change, there comes something NEW. Something to look FORWARD to.

Look upon your new, diverse, POWERFUL Inner Circle, :: Gesturing to her right, and to her left::

... and know that when you return to your lives and worlds outside of these ways, spreading our influence and rule, that WE will be DRIVING the force, the POWER behind the name of the Hellfire Club. We are not some impotent "advocacy" group or some elementary social club. We are POWER WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE.

:: Cheers once more::

BEFORE we BLACKOUT, allow me to introduce to you the newest CROWN JEWELS in this new Inner Circle.

A man full of power and vitality, every bit as MAGICKAL as you would expect of your new WHITE KING, Lord Ravena!

:: Cheers and applause erupt as Enchantrah stands behind Ravena, and lowers a specially designed crown (for the occassion) upon his head as Malice gestures toward him. The Red Queen gives him a knowing look and in a rather CHEEKY moment, she gives him a...."WELCOME KISS". ::

Malice to Helena telepathically: As always, you do your your best work with your MOUTH, HOOVER UPRIGHT.

:: adding a soft laugh to that thought call to Helena, the white queen continues without missing a beat::

AND .... truly ONE of a kind, a woman who knows what it takes to get the job done, your new warrior WHITE PRINCESS, Haleigh Davidoff!

:: As the audience claps, cheers and whistles. While Diana didn't say it flat out to the gathered crowed, it was not hard for some of the higher level members to realize that ONLY a daughter could be the Queen's PRINCESS. ::

:: Talisman moves behind Haleigh and slowly places another specially designed crown (again for the occassion) upon her head as Malice gestures toward her. The Black Queen gives Haleigh a look. Their encounter earlier served Kelly's purpose, but Haleigh's HANDLING of it, served DIANA'S. Haleigh wouldn't RELY on her mother's protection, but only a FOOL would think that Diana would allow ANYONE to threaten or harm that which was HER'S. Her words to Haleigh following the Viper caper were STILL in effect...::

::FLASH!::

If ANYONE is going to kill you, my dear, it's going to be ME!

They join us in a new, glorious era where we will ensure that our ever need, interest and want is fullfilled!

Ladies and Gentleman, I present to you, your NEW, DIVERSE, POWERFUL Inner Circle!

:: Once again gesturing outward to ALL on either side of the dais, before moving back a step, and taking Lord Ravena's arm::

And now that you have seen the face of POWER, it is time to BLACK OUT!

:: And with that, The Hellfire Mansion begins to SEAL, with all possible views from the outside being BLOCKED, and all conventional methods of surveilance and technology employed by the government being scrambled/JAMMED , and the mansion now begins to BLACK OUT with the normal lights fading in cascading effect all across the mansion on all levels.::

:: Other members of the HC hurry to their VIP suites and rooms, eager to engage in various personal, private, even "forbidden" activities" , others take to dancing to the music in the Lunar Ballroom::

:: Music begins to play as the Inner Circle withdraws to their specially designed, full service salon , where they can be joined by the Special VIP guests. Moving, floating "monitors" allow views into EVERY part of the mansion for the viewing and perhaps voyeuristic pleasure of anyone in the Exclusive Inner Circle's salon that might be interested::

:: Those in the Opera Box will have easy access to either join the Inner Circle, or move on to other points of intrigue this long, decadent night.::

 

[Domino]

The Hellfire Mansion

:: Maxine watched from the comfort of the opera box with great pleasure. At the moment, Alice was keeping Jessica entertained and it looked like she might be able to have a little bit of fun on her own tonight. Watching as The White Queen introduced the new Inner Circle, Maxine was grateful to no longer have to be up on such a stage, standing there like a prized pig, letting the crowd guess her weight and her general health for some kind of ribbon. She had outgrown those days and she didn't miss them. As the grand announcement was made and the party began to kick into high gear all over the place, Domino decided that she would try and enjoy herself. Soon The Inner Circle began to gather in their salon, ready to receive guests and gestures of all sorts. This wasn't a place she wished to go just yet. She had experienced it before. Everybody clambering to get a look at the fresh meat, sizing them up and showering them with unwarranted praise. She understood it, and out of respect for Diana, she would eventually make her presence known, say a few words, maybe hit up the new White Princess and see if the new haircut was for fashion purposes only or if it meant she was ready to dip her toes in the lady pond. A mischievous glance curled up in her lips as she walked over towards Alice and Jessica, just as they were entering the salon. She took a sip of whiskey from her flask. ::

"Well. Everybody is nice and official. Jessica, I'm going to go see how everybody downstairs is doing. I might be gone for a little while, but don't worry, if you need me I will be right by your side in an instant, okay? In the mean time, that unfortunately means you'll be left in the company of Alice. Now I normally wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, but you seem to like her, so I guess everything should be fine."

:: She embraced Viper warmly and whispered in her ear. ::

"I mean it Jessica..just say the words and I will be there. But please...try to enjoy yourself. Have fun tonight. This is what we've been working for and we have to do well tonight. Trust me, okay?"

:: Domino looked at Alice with a severe unspoken look that was mutually reciprocated, but they spoke no words, as per usual. Not thinking any more about that, out of the corner of her eye, she caught something that sparked her desire - Sharon Kelly. She had thought about the woman ever since their encounter in the citadle. Sharon was a victim of the same kind of torture and experimentation that she had been a part of, and both had carved paths out for themselves when it didn't seem like statistics were in their favor. She could also give Maxine a beating and had an ass that just wouldn't quit. Taking a swig from her flask, she walked with her cane as she made her way over to the woman. ::

"Mon oisillon, what a pleasure it is to see you. Was our last encounter not enough for you? Have you come back for more?"

:: Her soft French accent lilted as she spoke. This was part of her charm, for such a tough and brassy woman, she often had the voice of a gentle aristocrat. She moved closer to Sharon like a Cheshire cat as she offered her a swig from her flask, knowing she would most likely rather eat lead. ::

"I can't blame you. I have that effect on women..."

[smirking]

"How did you enjoy the opening ceremony...see anything...surprising?"

 

[Talisman]

The Hellfire Mansion

:: Kelly Shaw was bathing in the spotlight with a kind of enjoyment not seen yet since she had arrived in this timeline. After bonding herself in a mysterious way to this timeline, she had broken her anti-empathy spell and bonded her soul to a source of great power, the requirement for her to stay here. While MysTech had been successful in her own home, it had never reached the peaks that this version had. A deep part of her knew that this was because of the absence of Christopher and Adam. They were both brilliant men in their own right, but they were just that...MEN. For as brilliant as they were, they could never overcome their own ego and insatiable desire to play God, controlling everything around them. It had been a topic of conversation in her timeline for years with Helena and Diana, trying to figure out a way to get them out of the picture and move forward, but the world ended before that could happen. By luck, and fate, she believed, she had found herself in the place where Diana had done just that. And with Diana's cunning, Kelly's intelligence and Helena's masterful political acumen on a number of different levels, The newest incarnation of The Sisterhood was set to be the world's worst nightmare. While it had began many months ago, tonight, they had gone public. ::

Malice: "We've had some CHANGES since that LAST Blackout, and while transition can sometimes be uncertain, especially when a QUEEN inexplicably chooses to DESERT her post, ABANDON those she represents."

:: The crowd hissed loudly, expressing their discontent at the departure of Dominique Devereaux as a wicked smile appeared on Kelly's lips. The former Black Queen was a hotly debated issue among The Inner Circle, with many calling for her head. She had taken the mantle of black queen without truly embracing all that came with that. She was against some of the very things the club was based on. She thought it to be a perversion of nature. That was all well and good, but she had offended the very nature of some of the work that Talisman did on a daily basis, and soon, Dominique would get her hands dirty in a way that she wasn't prepared for, and would not recover from easily. ::

Malice: "Look upon your new, diverse, POWERFUL Inner Circle... and know that when you return to your lives and worlds outside of these ways, spreading our influence and rule, that WE will be DRIVING the force, the POWER behind the name of the Hellfire Club. We are not some impotent "advocacy" group or some elementary social club. We are POWER WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE."

"Hear, HEAR!"

:: Talisman nodded towards the crowd. ::

:: Cheers once more::

Malice: "BEFORE we BLACKOUT, allow me to introduce to you the newest CROWN JEWELS in this new Inner Circle. A man full of power and vitality, every bit as MAGICKAL as you would expect of your new WHITE KING, Lord Ravena!"

:: Ravena was definitely an intriguing character. There was something about him. She felt drawn to him for some strange reason, and she could never be sure if it was his skill as a magick user or his status as a vampire. Either way, it put her a little on edge, but she decided that it was probably better to have him on their side rather than against them. She laughed as Helena made such a brazen welcoming to The White King in front of everyone. It was definitely Helena's style to do such a thing. ::

Malice: "AND .... truly ONE of a kind, a woman who knows what it takes to get the job done, your new warrior WHITE PRINCESS, Haleigh Davidoff!"

:: While she was fighting the urge to vomit, she was more concerned with the crowd and how they were reacting, specifically certain members of the opera box who had not been privy to the meeting of the minds that had occurred moments ago, like Sharon Kelly. While she was no fan of Haleigh Davidoff inserting herself in the business of The Six, she had to admit, she wished she could have been there to see the moment Haleigh had revealed her decision to them. What a shit show that must have been. It was not shocking that Talisman was informed that she would place the crown on Haleigh's head. Most likely punishment for earlier, Kelly would make sure the crown was SECURELY placed ::

Malice: "And now that you have seen the face of POWER, it is time to BLACK OUT!"

:: The lights went down and the party was officially in full effect. Making her way towards the salon, Kelly refreshed her glass of hemlock, something she had ensured would be at the ready on every floor in and in every room should the mood strike her. She gave a small toast to the other queens as they all received their beverages, before the others arrived. ::

"Well ladies. Here's to us...May the lights not be the only thing that blacks out tonight!"

:: She downed her flute in one gulp and smirked, setting her glass down on a nearby table. ::

"Don't get me wrong...you all look beautiful..but the only faces I've seen in the last few months have been you two and the rest of the people making their way here now...well, outside of my caper in the Citadle, but hey you can't win them all. I'm going to go and socialize for a few moments, see if there is anything worth eating down there...and perhaps check out the food."

:: Talisman winked as she made her exit from the salon and down to the main floor in the lunar ballroom. The music was pumping and the lights were strobing around her, cascading over her alabastar and exposed skin. While most witches channeled their power through nature or an object of mystic power such as an athame, Kelly found her strength in the never ending and powerful pulse of technology. And right now, it was all around her, coursing through her body, giving her strength and mingling with her energy perfectly. This was exactly where she needed to be. As another flute of hemlock came around for her, she took the glass to her lips, took a deep breath and began to make her way through the dancefloor, greeting guests of the party and moving along to the beat of the music. ::

 

[Mockingbird]

The Hellfire Mansion - Lights Out

:: Kristen exhaled loudly to herself as she made her way, carrying her dress train delicately in her hand and a cocktail in the other after announcing the opening ceremony. It wasn't her favorite duty, but she had a recognizable and waspy type voice that usually caused people to take notice that something important was happening and to be honest, it was one of her lighter duties working for Diana. As she sat back down next to Benjamin, she noticed Sharon Kelly to the left of her, seated and looking poised and beautiful as ever. For a moment her mind wandered. ::

<< FLASH! >>

Arklay Manor - Years Ago

<< A lavish and elegant party is happening in the walls of Arklay, a version of the manor which has not yet seen the many brutal acts that transpired there, or at least not it doesn't look worse for the wear. >>

<< A young and bright looking Kristen moves around the party, much as she had tonight, charming the guests and offering them food, ensuring that everyone is enjoying themselves. A man, who is not her current husband, but her former, deceased husband Edward Ashcroft grabs her arm and steals a kiss. >>

<< She looks happy and naive. This had been one of the first events that Edward had let her plan, and she was glad that it was going so well. Tonight they were celebrating the architect of the manor and across the room she saw him and his family, including Sharon and Kyle Kelly. They were a strong family unit, very warm and happy. He seemed to really love his wife and their boy was a blonde ball of adorable. >>

<< For a moment she was envious, wishing she had a child of her own, excited for the possibility of her life and future with Edward, a man she had gone against her family to see. >>

<< The lights go out. >>

<< People begin to scream. >>

<< A young boy's cries can be heard. >>

:: Sharon didn't know it, but their histories were deeply intertwined. While that night so many years ago had changed Sharon forever, it had also changed Kristen. Both women walked on decidedly different paths after that moment. Sharon had gone into politics and Kristen had soul her soul to the devil to save her family's legacy and to exponge her choices from all records. Two sides of the same coin. For years, she had wanted to have a conversation with Sharon, to admit the part she had played in her family's demise, but she had realized, after decades of remorse, that it wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't bring her son or her husband back. Sharon became a mutate because of her path, clearly she had suffered enough. Snapping back into reality, the lights began to dim and Kristen realized she missed the crowning moment. The party may have now officially began but Kristen still had work to do. Her son Simon had been causing quite a ripple through the city with his plans to unveil a new mutant rights initiative. Not to mention his new and unsettling ties to The Six. She had survived nearly thirty years of service to Diana without so much as a hiccup in the road, and now her own son was unknowingly putting himself on a path he was unprepared and not powerful enough to walk. ::

:: A waiter came by at that very moment, and so Kristen did what she always did. She grabbed a glass of wine, took a sip and forgot about all that nonsense. She turned to Gorgon who had for the most part been a respectable guess and she leaned in. ::

"Alright, boy...It's time. Head down to the Lunar Ballroom and await my team's cue. And get your ducks in a row. Know what you are going to say before you open your mouth. Your future here at The Hellfire Club depends on it. And for the love of god, fix that tie, it's been driving me nuts all night."

:: She reached over and adjusted the knot on Benjamin's tie before patting him on the chest and sending him on his way. Kristen made her way towards the salon, passing by Kelly Shaw with a nod as she entered the room where the Inner Circle was now gathering. ::

"The Black Queen is leaving already? Tell me you haven't already scared her off, Diana. That would be a record."

:: Kristen approached The White Queen and gave the same double air kiss that she gave Helena, only this time to Diana. ::

"I must give credit where credit is due. The party is a smashing success. Speaking of which.."

:: Kristen took another sip of her wine. Her love affair of alcohol was something that was well known by Malice, but it had never once hindered her ability to get the job done. Not to mention, Diana enjoyed the times when Kristen got a little loose in the lips, delivering any number of backhanded insults as only a blue blooded Connecticut born wasp could. ::

"Before things get...as they get around here, there's a small bit of business I need to to tend to.."

:: She pulled Diana to the side. ::

"Now, you know I never attend a party without bringing a gift for the host, and this one I think you'll like."

:: From her clutch she produced a tablet that was tapped into the security systems of the mansion. She was one of the only people not living in the mansion who had access to software like this. A camera view of the lunar ballroom appeared on the screen as Kristen zoomed in on the dancefloor as an arial view of Kelly Shaw could be seen dancing as a handsome man approached in the distance. ::

"I trust you remember the tragedy that was the short lived London branch of Mystech. Back during Christopher and Adam's extended trip across the pond?"

:: It was this trip where they first introduced the TO Virus to the European Hellfire Club, attempting to expand their influence before they were ready. Some of these efforst proved successful, as Maxine Dupont was living proof, but others, like London MysTech crashed and burned to the ground. ::

"I only framed that in the form of a question to be nice. Of course we all remember what a disaster that was. When Kelly Shaw came to this timeline, it caused me to wax a bit nostalgic for our history. I began to pour over mission files, historical documents...mostly for self preservation, but then I stumbled upon something. Agent Finn."

:: The camera zoomed in once more as the face of Gorgon became much clearer, his pale sapphire eyes locking with Talisman's. Kristen smirked as she continued to look at the two about to come into each other's orbit. ::

"Agent Finn was the point man on the London project. Adam and Christopher tasked him with recruiting and training prospective members, finding new assets, that sort of thing. He was a sad man. Heavy drinker...and when I say it, it was bad. Dead wife and son that he desperately wanted to be great. His son was Benjamin Lewis, though case files indicate that he operated under the codename Rogue. His first, last and only assignment was to recover a psionic succubus that had been discovered in Paris by the name of Cassandra Johnson. Yes...THAT Cassandra Johnson."

"He romanced the girl for quite some time. Unkowingly fell in love with her, yet still was able to try and bring her in as an asset. The mission file I was able to recover says that she tried to drain him, he survived, and both of them fell off the radar forever. Now...Agent Finn drank himself to death and shortly thereafter, everybody came to their senses and the London branch closed for good. Now I couldn't understand exactly why I kept thinking about Benjamin...until I stumbled upon this..."

:: Tapping on the screen, the camera zoomed close up on Benjamin's hand as he made his way through the crowd. It was a mysterious and beautiful onyx stone ring. ::

"The London branch of Mystech coincides with the days of Valiant and The Axis of Evil. At one point, Axis of Evil even resided at MysTech's headquarters. This led to interaction between Kelly King and Benjamin Lewis. We thought that The Axis would give a sense of purpose to Kelly...and for a time it did. In one of her only acts of usefulness during her tenure here, she crafted and charmed a ring for Ben that would protect him against Cassandra's ability to drain him, and it was what saved his life."

"Now, you know I don't enjoy loose ends, so I did a bit of digging and found similarities in intelligence briefs that matched Rogue's standard operating procedure. A few days later I found myself in Prague, face to face with Ben, who was now going under the codename Gorgon. He's done quite a bit of mercenary work over the years. Black market stuff, so he knows the ropes. He's also fairly easy on the eyes."

:: Shaking her head ::

"More to the point..you have been concerned about Talisman for quite some time. That her pure apathy might cause problems, and while it appears that she has dealt with some of those problems by consuming an unearthly amount of hemlock and baring an amount of skin that would make Kelly King proud, it's still something to keep an eye on. You've also had your eye on Ruby. In terms of finding dirt on her, we haven't come up with much. Talisman, as a master of science, also has expressed interest in learning more about Cassandra's origin. That's where Gorgon comes in. He's handsome and smart enough to intrigue The Black Queen and when she picks up on the energy signature of that ring he wears, well..she will definitely want to get to know him better. As for Benjamin, well...I have him convinced that it is up to him to complete the work that his father never did. He is also...foolishly still in love with Cassandra Johnson. He feels all at once compelled to prove himself and indebted to me..and by proxy YOU of this second chance he is being given. My gift to you tonight, and suitably so for a blackout party...is the perfect candidate for the Black Court."

[putting her tablet away and smirking]

"One who will fiercely serve The Black Queen...in more ways than one, and one who will work with us, should the need arise to deal with Talisman in a more...elevated manner. Now, of course, it would be no fun if I simply pulled some strings, talk to Kelly and recruit formally. No. She doesn't know of my actions. I thought it might be a little fun to watch it unfold organically...see how much Kelly truly has changed, what she might do, how she might react under a varying degree of circumstances.."

"All in all..I'd say it's one hell of a gift..Unless Helena or Kelly got you something as equally impressive?"

:: She took a sip of her drink. ::

"Didn't think so..."

:: She laughed. ::

 

[Fathom]

The Hellfire Club -- Lunar Ballroom

Heidi dropped back from the center of the excitement to lounge on a chaise just behind and to the right of Diana during the exchange between Scion and the Queens. She put her trident away, since it wasn't needed anymore, and just listened with mild interest.

Scion had some serious stones, the way she interacted with the Queens. She projected a devil-may-care attitude and she pushed back against the Black Queen's attempts to subjugate her. Even more telling, Diana didn't step in for EITHER Scion OR Kelly, their debate was allowed to continue. It was clear that Scion would yield ONLY to the White Queen. It was also clear that despite her former ties, Diana was accepting of her daughter's arrival, and regardless of how the rest of them felt, Scion was here to stay. Diana's invitation, and her approval of this arrangement was enough to dispel any objections Heidi might have held.

Heidi hadn't been here long enough to know all the names and faces. Obviously this woman who'd crashed their party was a big deal, not JUST because she was Diana's daughter, but because she'd been playing the game for the other team the whole time. She'd heard of the Six, but hadn't bothered studying them, since they were all as good as dead. But just watching the discussion, Heidi learned a great deal, and when Scion told Kelly not to repeat her previous self's fatal mistake of under-estimating the Six, Heidi realized the warning could extend to herself as well. Maybe she SHOULD be studying their enemies. Scion insisted they weren't light weights, and given her bravado here, there had to be a level of truth to that. Besides, If they WERE a bunch of pansies, they wouldn't have survived this long, and Haleigh herself wouldn't be a welcome addition in Diana's eyes.

It was all good and well until they started throwing around the title 'White Princess'. The last White Princess Heidi had known had been Juliette, the vampire who'd brought down the European white court, the bitch who'd sent Avalanche to strike Heidi down. That betrayal was still fresh to Heidi. Though she'd had a chance to vindicate herself regarding ice elementals, the idea of another princess coming in, and having the clout to order a hit on her again, did NOT sit well with Heidi. The new White King even seemed smitten with Scion, just like Liam had been with HIS Princess. The only difference in THIS case was that Scion seemed respectful enough towards Diana.... but Heidi would be sure to keep a very close eye on Haleigh. She would NOT allow Diana to be double-crossed the way Camille was. Heidi shared a look with Amanda, who appeared JUST as cautious and determined as Heidi herself felt.

Kristen came in and broke up the debate, ushering them all back to their places. It wasn't long before they were all assembled on the dais again, and Heidi had another electric blue elixir in hand for the toast. Kristen brought Haleigh back to the group, and she looked like a brand new woman almost. There was hint of her infamous alter ego, the Black Widow, embroidered on her gown. At least she LOOKED like she belonged with them.

Intro speeches and debut announcements were made, and the White King and Princess were 'crowned'. There were several rounds of applause, and then the party officially started. The Inner Circle all made their way to the salon, where there was sure to be a steady stream of admirers. Heidi pulled up next to Amanda, as she watched Scion speaking with a member of the White Guard, who nodded along like an eager bobble head at whatever she was telling him. ALREADY, the princess was throwing her weight around. Heidi leaned in to Amanda so she could speak in a lower tone.

"I trust that you and I are of the same opinion regarding the new White Princess."

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- Lunar Ballroom

Kristen: It took some brass balls, you know...to do what you did tonight. Busting in, setting off all the alarms. Mouthing off to everyone in attendance. It was smart.

"Thanks."

Haleigh replied curtly as Kristen prepared her for the party. Simon's mother tried a couple more times to make small talk, but Haleigh just wasn't in the mood. She sighed as her buzz wore off again, and decided to give up on trying to keep it going. The hardest part was over, she'd walked out on her family and she surrendered to her mother. Alice gave Haleigh a quick briefing, introducing all the members of the Inner Circle by name, callsign, and power set. Haleigh absorbed and cataloged that intel, and then followed Kristen to the dais, where she was directed to stand next to Malice. Emiko got close enough behind Haleigh to whisper some intel, to which Haleigh turned her ear to receive.

Emiko: Watch out for Heidi.... she thinks she's the daughter the White Queen never had.

"Emiko, I appreciate the heads up. Do you like sushi? Because if the little mermaid points her pot-stirrer at me again, I'll make FUTOMAKI out of her. I bet you have some good Sake to go with...."

They were announced by Mockingbird, and then Malice began her opening speech. Haleigh searched the crowd and saw MANY faces she recognized, from politics and celebrities to financiers and entrepreneurs. She had files on most of them at Clandestine. The connections in this place were byzantine.

She almost didn't believe her eyes when she spotted her sister. Her heart skipped a beat, as she feared the worst, and scanned the room again, urgently, though she managed to maintain a blank expression. Had the Six rashly decided to REFUSE to let her go? Had they infiltrated this party, resolved to strike first, blinded by heartbreak and anger? No.... Ava was the only one of the Six here. There was Sharon, but it was more likely Sharon was here by coincedence, or that she was using her late husband's Hellfire membership to keep herself [and the BoP by proxy] up to date on Hellfire events. Haleigh's gaze fell back to Ava, who was fairly concealed near the back of the room amongst some potted plants. Haleigh's vision 'zoomed in', and she could see her sister's expression. Ava looked.... supportive, but cautious.

Diana: AND .... truly ONE of a kind, a woman who knows what it takes to get the job done, your new warrior WHITE PRINCESS, Haleigh Davidoff!

The crowd applauded and cheered, and in some groups, there was the excited buzz of speculation. Several members would know who Haleigh was and want to flaunt that knowledge, several more would be discussing the connection she must have with Diana to have scored such a prominent position. Kelly stepped forward to place Haleigh's crown, and she wasn't happy about it. Haleigh herself smirked facetiously as Kelly attempted to jam the headpiece down. Kelly was not capable of exerting the force necessary to hurt Haleigh, in fact, no one else would be able to tell that Kelly had been more 'assertive' than necessary, because Haleigh's head wasn't at all jarred by the attempt. The only thing Kelly accomplished was that she let Haleigh know just how much she'd gotten under the Black Queen's skin.

After the opening ceremony, they withdrew from the balcony into the Inner Circle's salon. She knew she'd be expected to mingle and put in face time as the new Princess, and that she'd have to start the process of networking and establishing a Hellfire reputation. But there was something she needed to resolve first and foremost, and that was the arrival of Persephone. She pulled aside the nearest member of security.

"Seek out Ava Cassadine and invite her to join me here immediately. Be DISCREET and polite. You'll find a picture of her on your tablet to help you with identification."

 

[Enchantrah]

She knew the moment Haleigh Davidoff pranced into the Hellfire Club it would be a shit show, but for fucks sake, did it have to happen the night she was preparing to wine and dine so many of the clubs most influential men? Always a buzz kill, and even bigger cock block. Helena watched as Kristen Pratt sauntered in, looking as gorgeous as ever...bitch...

"Kristen! Darling."

Giving her a cheek to cheek air kiss, Helena smiled 'warmly' to her friend. She knew Kristen for YEARS, always in the same circles as her, and of course Kristen had supported the Hellfire Club for as long as Helena had been apart of it. Helena had few friends of the female gender and Kristen was one of them. But that didn't mean she couldn't hate on the bitch occasionally.

"Love the dress. Dior?"

Kristen responded with an 'of course'--Helena knowing it was her favorite designer. But the time for pleasantries were over. She knew if the Mockingbird was here it was time to get down to buisness. Mockingbird was like the drill sergeant of the Hellfire Club, always on peoples asses to make sure they get the job done and in a timely fashion. She knew exactly what needed to be done, who needed to do it, and when it needed to be done by. She knew the ins and outs of the Hellfire Club, and had been a most useful alley to both herself and Diana. She quickly shut the theatrics of Scion's arrival down, telling everyone they needed to get downstairs.

"Finally!"

She took it upon herself to take Scion under her wing and get her prepared for the party. An amused smile tugged on Helena's lips as she leaned into Kristen before she walked over to Haleigh.

"Get your gorilla glue ready."

Helena chuckled as she rolled her eyes at the situation. This was something out of a comedy--rogue prodigal daughter returns to mother who hates her all the while looking like a West Hollywood reject. Ahh, a 5 star review on Rotten Tomatoes for sure.

Making her way downstairs, finally the party was about to begin. Mockingbird began to announce the arrival of Inner Circle. Stepping forward, Helena posed with her hand on her hip looking among the crowd. She could see many of her male companions smiling up at her like they were in a Colgate commerical--all while their wives or dates were glued to their arms. So delicious. Winking at one in particular, Helena grinned just as Diana, Ravena, and finally Haleigh were all introduced. Diana made her speech, and finally, the lights dimmed and the party began.

Kelly: "Well ladies. Here's to us...May the lights not be the only thing that blacks out tonight!"

"Here, here!"

Helena lifted her martini glass up clinking it with Kelly.

Kelly: "Don't get me wrong...you all look beautiful..but the only faces I've seen in the last few months have been you two and the rest of the people making their way here now...well, outside of my caper in the Citadle, but hey you can't win them all. I'm going to go and socialize for a few moments, see if there is anything worth eating down there...and perhaps check out the food."

"Mmm, yes....I have a few morsels downstairs i'd like to nibble on myself. I'll see you ladies later."

Both Kelly and Helena departed from the salon and headed downstairs, separating amongst the crowd of people. Helena began to mingle with a few of the low class guests just to play face, but soon she spotted her mark: Calpernia De Versailles and her new gorgeous husband that Kristen had told her about earlier. Grinning, Helena made her way over to them like a cat stalking its prey.

"Well don't you both look absolutely ravishing!"

Extending her hand out to Calpernia's new husband, Helena smirked.

"Helena Quartermaine...pleasure to finally meet you."

 

[Persephone]

Ava remained silent and still , her eyes narrowing as the Inner Circle was being introduced over the loudspeaker. The queens were introduced first, taking in the spotlight before the announcer introduced the new White King, Lord Ravena. As he stepped forward a chill ran down Ava's spine....something about him was so familiar....she would of definitely remembered a face like his....but she couldn't quite place it. Ava's eyes went black as she continued to study him--she INSTANTLY disliked him. It was like her instincts were on overload and they were all screaming that he was dangerous and needed to die. But as the announcer introduced the new White Princess, Ava's attention went back to Haleigh. She stepped forward into the spotlight and was officially crowned with an actual tiara. Haleigh in a tiara...if it wasn't so fucked up it would be funny.

Diana finally stepped forward and began her speech. It was long winded and boring, but soon it was over. The lights finally dimmed, causing Ava to look around the ballroom as the crowd began to cheer. And then, the Blackout Party finally began. The music began to pump loudly out the speakers and beams of different colored lights strobed throughout the dance floor. Stepping out from behind the plant, Ava began to weave cautiously between the patrons, eyeing the various exits and security staff. Slipping out a side exit, the hallway was empty and quiet, giving Ava a moment to breathe and take everything in. Shutting her eyes, she needed to figure out how to get up to Haleigh.

Guard: "Hey! You!"

Ava quickly looked over to the guard yelling at her. He was about ten feet away as he began to approach, looking down at his tablet then back up at Ava. Fuck, someone knew she was here. Despite being alone in the hall, Ava didn't want to use her powers to cause anymore unwanted attention.

Guard: "Ava Cassadine--"

He was close enough to grab. Before he could finish speaking Ava reached for his forearm, pulling him towards her and twisting him around into an arm lock. Slamming him up against the wall, she pulled his arm tightly, on the verge of dislocating his shoulder.

Guard: "Wait! Wait! Wait! Please! The White Princess sent me!

Ava's brows furrowed.....did Haleigh see her during the ceremony? Ava pulled the guard away from the wall before slamming him even harder into it, causing more pressure to his shoulder. He cried out in pain, begging for Ava to listen to him. Letting his arm go, Ava spun him around and pinned his back against the wall now. Her hand gripping his throat tightly and her nails digging into his flesh.

Guard: "I swear it!"

[evenly] "Well, if you swear it..."

Ava's irises were dark as she looked into the guard's wide petrified eyes. Her grip tightening as blood began to drip down the guards neck and onto her fingers.

Guard: *gasping* "There.....please..."

Ava kept pressure on his throat, taking pleasure in seeing him struggle to breathe. A cold smile tugged on her lips as he tried to speak. He began to shift his gaze to the ground, indicating there was something he wanted her to see. Ava didn't revert her eyes, she just watched as his lips began to turn blue and tears fall from his red bloodshot eyes. But finally, she relented, looking down at the floor and seeing the tablet he had been holding earlier laying face up with Ava's picture on it and a few basic stats. But at the top it had a red security bar across the information stating 'Security Clearance--White Princess'. Ava loosened her grip and looked back at the guard who began to gasp for air.

"She sent you?"

The guard nodded as he coughed.

"Does anyone else know?"

He shook his head no as Ava finally released his throat.

Guard: "She told me to be discreet."

Snatching the pocket square from the guard's tuxedo, Ava began to wipe the blood off her hands.

"If you're lying to me..."

Guard: "I'm not, Miss Cassadine...I swear!"

Picking up the tablet, she shoved that and the bloody pocket square back into the guard's hands.

"Alright. Take me to her."

He quickly nodded, escorting her into a private corridor, both disappearing from sight. They made their way up a private spiral staircase leading to a closed door at the top. Next to the door there was a plaque that stated "VIP Salon". Great, he was taking her right into the lions den.

Guard: "This way."

He opened the door for her and she walked in. There was a hallway with two different directions to go in--one to the main VIP salon and the second to the private sidebar. The guard began to walk Ava down the hall toward the private sidebar. He opened the door.

Guard: "You majesty....Miss Cassadine as you instructed."

Ava didn't see who he was talking to. For all she knew the 'your majesty' was Diana ready to send a psi javelin right into her heart. But at this point, there was no turning back. Stepping forward, Ava entered the sidebar finally seeing Haleigh.

"Hales..."

Moving over to her sister, she embraced her tightly. Closing her eyes for a moment, she didn't say anything at first and just stayed in the moment...it could be their last for all she knew.

"So...your majesty huh?"

Pulling away from Haleigh, Ava looked at her sister. She could tell Haleigh was pissed she was here. But Ava didn't care.

"Do I bow?"

 

[Goliath]

The Blackout Party

:: The whole scene was rather alluring. He had attended Hellfire sponsored events across the pond many times, but more often than not, they were simply social gatherings where people liked to show off. While much of the background noise was the same at this event, it was clear that the American Hellfire Club operated at a level that was pretty much untouchable. Looking out at the crowd, he saw a number of people he had swindled over the years. Bank fraud, armed robbery, grand larceny, arson. He had run the gambit in his years as a mercenary, and as an added bonus for Gorgon and a stroke to his ego, many of the people in this room had no idea who he was, which made him know he was good at what he did. ::

Mockingbird: "Alright, boy...It's time. Head down to the Lunar Ballroom and await my team's cue. And get your ducks in a row. Know what you are going to say before you open your mouth. Your future here at The Hellfire Club depends on it. And for the love of god, fix that tie, it's been driving me nuts all night."

:: Ben nodded and made his exit from the opera box and down to the Lunar Ballroom, where guests of the party were dancing together like some choreographed sea of debauchery. The party was everything promised to him and more. In the distance, up ahead he could make out the form of The Black Queen. She was slowly dancing to the beat while greeting guests and making her presence known. Watching her be the only person in the room to stand up to somebody like the former Black Widow had impressed him, and while he had known Kelly King, this woman was altogether a different beast. Kristen was right, he would need to be careful with his words and his presentation. ::

:: Soon the distance closed in between them and he found himself a few steps away from her line of sight. ::

"Good evening, Black Queen."

:: She turned around to face him, her icy blue eyes sparkling against the lights of the dancefloor. ::

Talisman: "That it is, young boy."

:: Gorgon extended his hand to greet the Queen formally as the black onyx stone of his ring caught her attention almost immediately. ::

"Benjamin Lewis. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I had heard rumblings about the new Black Queen. It's good to finally put a face to the name...and congratulations. Tell me, what greatness do you plan on bringing the black court?"

 

[Wallflower]

Hellfire Mansion

Talisman: ""This is your night, Amanda. And your gift. We may be celebrating The White King...and now I suppose The White Princess, but my eyes...shall be on you. Do not forget this moment. It is where our work together truly begins."

"I don't think I could forget this moment if I tried."

:: She looked over at Talisman. ::

"Before things get loud, I'd like to take this moment to thank you...again. For everything. I was dead when you found me, and now?"

Talisman: "Now you are more alive than you've ever been. You've thanked me many times over since our time together began, but tonight, Amanda...it's time for you to thank yourself. I gave you the tools. You chose to use them.."

:: Talisman put her arm around Amanda which immediately put Amanda on edge. Over the last few weeks, Kelly had been acting decidedly different. When they had first met, Kelly was a cold taskmaster who had offered her a deal with the emotional vulnerability of a table lamp, but Amanda respected that. Amanda used to be very emotional, very impulsive and here was a woman who seemed above all of that. That, and along with a promise of revenge was what led Amanda to take the deal, to be experimented on. As she went through her process, she could assume that Talisman was pleased with her progress, but there was always something missing from her words, always something leaving her to worry that at any second Talisman could pull the plug and send her back to where she came from. So to hear Kelly, so warm..well warm for her, it was as uneasy as it was comforting. She decided to take this moment for what it was and not overthink things. ::

Talisman: "As a token of my appreciation, I believe it is time to hold up my end of our bargain. It is almost time for you to enact your game of revenge on Cameron King. You've earned it. But for now, let's enjoy the night. Things will only get more complicated from here on out. We need these memories to keep us centered and strong."

"Well then, let's make memories shall we?"

:: The lights flickered. ::

"Looks like they are getting started."

Talisman: "I will seek you out later, Cobra. I'm intrigue to see just where or WHO you might STRIKE. Good luck."

:: The Inner Circle gathered on the balcony and the opening ceremony commenced. Amanda was one of the few who enjoyed the symbolism and ritual of The Hellfire Club. She eagerly took her place in the spotlight and listened to every word intimately. As the lights went down and the music went on full blast, as a cold blooded creature, Amanda welcomed the warmth of the bodies mixing and mingling all around her. They made their way to the salon as Kelly and Helena both took their leave. Diana was busying conversing with Kristen and Haleigh was already issuing orders to the white guard. Cobra could sense Heidi's agitation before she mentioned it. ::

Fathom: "I trust that you and I are of the same opinion regarding the new White Princess."

"She does have a certain arrogance about her, that's for sure. But we shouldn't worry, not that you were. Scion can never last here. Eventually Diana will require her to do something she won't do..and she'll either run back to her team with her tail between her legs..or Malice will neutralize her. Either way, it's no skin off our backs."

:: Haleigh made her way through the room, passing Heidi and Amanda as she went. Both of them gave her a somewhat half hearted nod. ::

"Though it doesn't mean we shouldn't keep our eyes on her. You were right earlier. We are Knights. And we need to protect the interests of our courts. And right now..."

:: Cobra looked up at one of the monitors as she saw Talisman on the dancefloor, flute of hemlock in her hand. ::

"The interests of my court seem to be alcohol and debauchery related. Come on, let's explore for a bit."

:: Amanda grabbed Heidi by the hand as the two made their exit from the salon. At first, she was wary of Heidi - but she was coming to the realization that while she was serving on the black court and loyal to Talisman, it didn't mean her life began and ended there. Tonight was an opportunity to create a life for herself. Malice was a cold high queen and Amanda would make sure she never found herself on the sharp end of a PSI javelin. She needed allies and she needed influence, and fortunately for her, with so many new members of the inner circle, they all did to. ::

:: They walked down the steps, two very different kinds of sexy as they made their way to the Black Corridor, one of the many themed rooms of the party that was dedicated to each court. The Black Court room was decked out in a mixture of high functioning technology and cyborg like creatures entertaining the guests, pouring drinks and showing their capabilities. Amanda nodded to a member of the black guard as he led the two women through the gothic inspired room and up towards the VIP Lounge that was encased in glass, allowing guests of the room to see just who was important to The Black Court. There were others around enjoying themselves and Amanda made sure to introduce herself to these people as she went. Before long she took a seat on one of the plush black couches as a cybernetic gnome brought her a classic straight martini. She sat her glass down on the table next to her. ::

"I've noticed you aren't much of a drinker. Now, it's really not any of my business..but I know a recovering addict when I see one."

:: She eyed Heidi up and down. ::

"I mean no judgment here..I've definitely done my fair share of the hard stuff.."

[thinking]

"You are a woman of influence and stature..so I'm gonna go with pills? Rich people always go for the pills. Like because their drugs look like they came from the pharmacy it makes them somehow less of an addict."

:: Taking a sip of her martini ::

"I mean, you also could just not like the taste of alcohol. Forgive me for being so blunt, but we all just kind of popped up out of nowhere and have been forced to interact without really knowing each other. And since i've been down in the catacombs for so long, I just kind of filled in the blanks myself. So am I wrong...or do we actually have something in common?"

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- Inner Circle Salon

The white guardsman scurried off to do her bidding, which Haleigh found slightly amusing, if a bit ridiculous. She scoped out the scene here with mild interest while she waited for her sister to be brought up. Malice was tied up in conversation with Mockingbird, something Haleigh hoped would last at least long enough for her to speak with Ava BEFORE they were accosted. Lord Ravena was graciously receiving congratulations and admiration. Enchantrah and Talisman left the salon to go hunt people or kill puppies or whatever it was that turned them on.

Fathom and Cobra were not-so-surreptitiously discussing their views on their latest addition. They REALLY ought to make at least an ATTEMPT to be covert.... but then they probably didn't realize that Haleigh could hear them, even with the din of multiple conversations and party music. They didn't trust her, and they shouldn't. Haleigh almost stopped to tell them as much, but she thought it would be more interesting to see how they'd play their hands first, so as she passed, she just returned the begrudging nods they gave her.

Haleigh made her way to the sidebar, an offshoot of the Salon proper, near the side entrance where she'd told the guard to bring her sister. She slid onto a chair at a cocktail table, keeping her back to the wall and continuing to track the inner circle members as they socialized. It was quieter over here, less crowded. The area was romantically lit, and featured several clusters of tables and sofas where smaller groups could congregate or couples could get lost in each other.

Guard: Your majesty....Miss Cassadine as you instructed.

At first, Haleigh didn't think the man was talking to her. She wasn't exactly used to being addressed as 'your majesty'. It was her sister's voice that made her turn.

Ava: Hales...

They hugged tightly. Haleigh, though she wanted to SHAKE her sister for senselessly coming here, was simultaneously so happy to see her that she almost cried. ALMOST. She shut that shit down in the blink of an eye. None of these assholes would ever see her cry.

Ava: So...your majesty huh? Do I bow?

She laughed in spite of herself, and her outrage at Ava's audacious arrival faded. She sighed and rolled her eyes, then gestured for Ava to sit.

"I see Zach helped you find your sense of humor again. Good. I was afraid he'd break up with you too. How about you just sit, and explain what you were thinking, coming here. I mean you look gorgeous and I know you inherited your father's membership, but what the actual fuck sis?"

 

[Persephone]

Haleigh: "I see Zach helped you find your sense of humor again. Good. I was afraid he'd break up with you too."

Well that was news Ava hadn't yet heard. It explained a lot actually. But Ava decided not to respond to it...if Zach broke up with Haleigh, he was most likely in a downward spiral of whisky and women. Haleigh didn't need to worry about that on top of everything else.

Haleigh: "How about you just sit, and explain what you were thinking, coming here. I mean you look gorgeous and I know you inherited your father's membership, but what the actual fuck sis?"

Taking a seat, Ava looked at Haleigh for a moment in awe. She was so different yet still the same. Her looks, her demeanor, everything. But she soon noticed the small hourglass symbol on the broach of her dress causing Ava to half smile. The Black Widow was still there, despite everything. Finally, Ava looked Haleigh in the eyes.

"Did you actually think I was going to let you do this alone?"

Placing her hand on Haleigh's.

"You're my sister. I don't give a damn who's daughter you are...Diana's...the fucking pope...it doesn't matter. Blood is just that, BLOOD. We're FAMILY. And you know I would die for you before I let anything happen to you."

She should have said this earlier, in the war room. She should have told Haleigh before that no matter what they would ALWAYS be sisters. Maybe it would have changed something....probably not. But she was there now, and she was going to have Haleigh listen to her.

"I know you're here to protect The Six--to protect ME. But I don't need protecting....and I'm sure as hell am not going to stand by and watch you get circled by these blood thirsty sharks."

Ava removed her hand from Haleighs and stood up. She walked a couple steps forward, her back to her sister.

"Diana's wanted me apart of the Inner Circle since the moment Persephone merged with a Cassadine. I'm just going to finally give her what she wants."

Turning around.

[sardonic] "Well, unless she wants me dead now. Then in that case, it'll be a fucking battle."

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Mansion



She was a bit late, but she had finally arrived at the party. Several minutes before Kristen Pratt started announcing the Queens, she had managed to slip into the ballroom with nary a word to anyone. Though it was supposed to be the debut of the new White King, it was a debut for her as well. She hadn’t been seen in public for quite some time, but that was to be expected when one’s father was imprisoned and the feds took a ‘closer look’ at you. She had taken to lying low, but that was just a strategic move on her part. Smoothing down her dress, she glanced to her left. She could hear whispers…

Woman: *whispering*: ”That’s her! The one whose father was indicted on RICO charges…”

A cruel smile spread across her lips as she gracefully made her way over to the woman and her friends. Clearly this girl was a newbie here at Hellfire because she had NO IDEA who she was dealing with. Delight lit her eyes as the woman dropped her gaze down and had the good sense to look ashamed. But it wasn’t enough.

“Hi. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Giuletta Christina Nefaria, and yes, my father WAS recently indicted on RICO charges. But if you want to say something to me? Say it to my face.”

Giuletta Christina, Chrissy, for short, looked the woman up and down. Her nose wrinkled as she took in the black dress the nameless woman – to her – was wearing.

“And that dress…is SO last year.”

After watching the woman flush a deep red confirming that she was right, Chrissy turned on her heels and sauntered off. Her bodyguard, Max, followed her at a discreet distance. Oh, the joys of being a Mafia Princess. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to be on top of things while her father was away and it might as well be her. She smiled as a couple came up to her. This time, though, the interaction was positive. Always on the ball, Chrissy quickly did a mental calculation of the girl’s dress, shoes, hair, makeup, and jewelry. Perfect.

Stuart: “Thanks, Chris, for Davina here. She is EXACTLY what I asked for.”

He leaned close to Chrissy. It was no secret that Chrissy was the provider of many escorts tonight, but discretion was always key.

Stuart: *whispers*: You ALWAYS know EXACTLY what people need.”

“It comes with the territory. Enjoy your date!”

Nodding at them, Chrissy moved through the crowd, accepting some champagne from a passing waiter. She strode through the ballroom with confidence. When Kristen Pratt made the announcement, she turned to the dais where the Inner Court and Queens were gathered. One person was missing: the White Bishop. Her father’s imprisonment meant that a spot was open. Chrissy had no question that SHE would take her rightful place as her father’s daughter. What Chrissy wanted, Chrissy got. When it came to her, it wasn’t a matter of IF…it was a matter of WHEN. The same was true with her, ahem, business dealings. It wasn’t a matter of IF she could get her customers what they wanted…it mattered that she DID.

What a great turnout.

Her eyes moved slowly across the Inner Court members. They LOOKED beautiful, but Chrissy knew that if they were part of the Inner Court, there were reasons for that. She would have to get to know them, see what they are like, see what interested them. After all, Chrissy could supply ALL of their desires. ‘Disappointment’ and ‘failure’ were not words in her vocabulary. Her grey eyes caught a glimpse of somebody standing beside Kristen [Gorgon]. He was definitely new, because she had certainly never seen him before…and she would’ve remembered him if she had.

Hmmm. How interesting.

She would keep him on her radar and she would find out his story, see what she could provide him with. After all, that was just ONE of her specialties. Sighing, Chrissy looked around the room. She was listening half-heartedly when she heard the name, “Haleigh Davidoff”. Whipping her head around, she was just in time to see Black Widow crowned the new White Princess.

Huh. Now THAT is very interesting.

Blah, blah, blah…and now it was time to blackout. A smirk fell across Chrissy’s lips as she imagined all the debauchery that will take place. What part would Chrissy play? Well, she didn’t know but she was eager to find out. She spied two of the Inner Court members [Cobra and Fathom] leaving. She decided to follow them, but at a safe distance. Something about the two of them intrigued her. Keeping her eyes on the two beauties, Chrissy followed them into the Black Corridor. They probably KNEW that were being followed by now, but Chrissy wasn’t scared. She paused by the open doorway, just out of sight, and waited for the right time to make her presence known. She didn’t want to catch them off-guard. THAT just wouldn’t do. She could hear one of them talking about addictions. Finally she couldn’t stand it any longer. She gave three raps on the doorway to make her presence known.

“Addictions, huh? What’s your pleasures? I can provide ALL your needs.”

She came in and walked over to them, keeping a safe distance of course.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Giuletta Christina Nefaria. “Chrissy”, for short.”

 

[Talisman]

The Hellfire Mansion

< So far, things were going well enough. The hemlock was beginning to relax her, allowing her to sway with the music as she received her guests and those who were lucky enough to get an invitation. As she waved, smiled and gave what felt like a thousand air kisses, she heard a voice behind her that gave her pause. Spinning around on her black stilettos she found the source of the voice. A handsome young man with incredibly beautiful eyes. But there was something else. >

Gorgon: "Good evening, Black Queen."

"It feels like deja vu. Where have I met this man before?"

"That it is, young boy."

< He extended his hand to extend a greeting when she noticed the curious ring on his finger. It did not match his outfit and it was rather gawdy, which led her to believe that this ring held significant personal value. Suddenly it hit her. Entering this timeline had given her somewhat of a dual awareness. Though she had cemented herself as the alpha version of Kelly across the multiverse, she still could experience the memories and feelings of the deceased Kelly King as some kind of psychotic consciousness. It was those memories that had allowed her to find Diana on Sheena Island, and figure out exactly where Kelly King had gone wrong. While she may have been a mess to many others in her life, the memory of Kelly King had kept her alive. >

< She..or rather Witchfire had crafted that ring in London as a gift and a token of her skill. Talisman crinkled her nose. She was unimpressed with the power contained in the ring. It was weak and unconcise and for a moment, she wondered if it actually served it's purpose at all. >

Gorgon: "Benjamin Lewis. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I had heard rumblings about the new Black Queen. It's good to finally put a face to the name...and congratulations. Tell me, what greatness do you plan on bringing the black court."

< Immediately she was distrustful of this man. Singling her out, obviously tied to her counterpart. Things did not add up and although there was a great deal of hemlock flowing through her, she was NOT without her senses. >

"The fact that you heard rumblings tells me that somebody in this mansion is not doing their job. Or that you made that up in order to foster a sense of community with me. By the ring on your finger, I am aware you must know who I am...or who I was the last time you saw my face, so what's this all about Benjamin Lewis? What's your angle? And before you answer, I must urge you to choose your words carefully. I've already dealt with one quick witted loud mouth tonight and I'm not in the mood to deal with another one."

< Talisman moved the slit in the thigh of her dress to reveal her Omni Pistol resting delicately on her black lace garter belt. She smirked seductively. >

"Or maybe I am in the mood. Shooting somebody in the head at point blank range in the middle of a dance floor at the biggest party of the year? That would certainly buy me a bit of intrigue, wouldn't it?"

 

[Fathom]

The Hellfire Club -- Black Court Lounge

Amanda didn't seem too concerned about Scion, and she suggested that the White Princess would only be here temporarily. Haleigh passed by and Heidi dipped her head in a nod, because she knew that snubbing her Princess was moronic.

"Mmm, I'm not so sure about that, love. There's at least a dozen clones of her on Sheena Island... I stumbled into 'her' lab once. I don't think Diana will be willing to just let her 'defect' back... if she steps out of line, I believe the White Queen will strike her down.... and replace her. I think that's the only reason Scion showed Diana any deference. You saw how she was with the other queens. Intractable..... indomitable....... intrepid. But with Diana... her resistance was much weaker. Anyways.... I agree with you, we'll have to protect the interests of our own courts. It might be wise to watch each other's backs too. She seems like the type to try and pit us against each other to keep us divided."

Amanda seemed to go for the idea of joining forces, and took Heidi's hand to lead her off to find some trouble to get into. Heidi was fairly certain they passed a couple shagging against a wall in the hallway. She didn't seem appalled or even all that interested, but then she was used to passing by animal mating rituals. Amanda found them a couch in a swank-as-hell lounge, and a weird little creature brought the Black Knight a martini. Heidi asked for water with no ice, and that was when Amanda got analytical on her.

Amanda: I've noticed you aren't much of a drinker. Now, it's really not any of my business..but I know a recovering addict when I see one.

"Oh, it's not what you think--"

Amanda: I mean no judgment here..I've definitely done my fair share of the hard stuff...

"Is that right?"

Amanda: You are a woman of influence and stature..so I'm gonna go with pills? Rich people always go for the pills. Like because their drugs look like they came from the pharmacy it makes them somehow less of an addict.

Heidi giggled with amusement as the gnome brought her water. She let Amanda continue her wild speculation, because often this was the kind of assumption that people kept to themselves, or just spread as rumors behind a person's back. At least Amanda was direct about her curiosity.

Amanda: I mean, you also could just not like the taste of alcohol. Forgive me for being so blunt, but we all just kind of popped up out of nowhere and have been forced to interact without really knowing each other. And since I've been down in the catacombs for so long, I just kind of filled in the blanks myself. So am I wrong...or do we actually have something in common?

Masque: Addictions, huh? What’s your pleasures? I can provide ALL your needs.

"I highly doubt THAT."

She said, looking at the girl who'd just come over. There was mirth in her tone. She assumed this chick had come over to fawn over them, and so she just gazed at her expectantly, as if she was waiting for her to get the fangirl nonsense out of her system so the grown-ups could go back to talking.

Masque: Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Giuletta Christina Nefaria. “Chrissy”, for short.

"Chrissy, how charming. Tonight's not the night for autographs, but if you come back with some handsome bachelors, we might let you sit."

Heidi turned back to Amanda as if that was the end of the Italian parvenu. She pulled the crystal vial from the depths of her cleavage, an eyebrow raised suggestively, a wicked smile gracing her lips.

"What were we saying? Ah, yes.....drinking and drugs. Well, you aren't TOO far off. I dabbled some, with pills and powder..... but prescription fixes were always more Camille's thing. The street drugs made me boil.... and alcohol just makes me so.... DRY. But THIS....."

She says, dropping a little into her water, and stirring it around with the little straw before taking a sip.

"This.... is my poison of choice. I'd offer, but it's quite fatal to most people. It's the venom of a sea wasp. Also, I've NO interest in 'recovering'. That's for quitters."

She finished with a wink, and drank a little more.

 

[Silver Swan]

Hellfire Club- Blackout

[ Sharon's hand covered her mouth as her silver eyes widened]

Oh my HERA! HALEIGH!? on that dais with DIANA...and TALISMAN!

[It was all Sharon could do to control herself in that moment, as she denied the impulse to launch out of the opera box, like an arrow being fired by Artemis herself, and barrell into Talisman like a runaway COMET.]

[ There she was, in the opera box, with the likes of MAXINE DUPONT, a woman she wanted to CRUSH, and NOW seeing Haleigh on that dais, looking rather CONTENT to be crowned as Malice's White Princess. Just WHAT had happened with the Six!?]

[ The Inner Circle was larger, more diverse, and by Malice's description, more powerful. Sharon was gathering all this information, which she would report to Oracle. But she wasn't JUST here merely for reconnaissance. She'd stayed at the Hellfire Mansion, as a GUEST for a prolonged period of time, after her one-time run as an active member of the Six and following the conclusion of the Viper caper. There WAS something about this place that APPEALED to that part of her that "The Consortium" of Mystech had hoped to make the DOMINANT aspect of her personality. And while she had recovered from her transformation into Silver Swan with help from the Amazons and exposure to their purple ray, she was still a woman FOREVER changed, and sometimes...the six COULD be a bit...FRAGILE. ]

[ The Birds of prey seemed to be more balanced, more street wise, and for now...that was a good fit for Sharon, but there was something about THIS place that resonated with her as the Silver Swan. That was a secret she kept, but there was at least ONE person present who seemed to perceive that about her on some level.]

[ As everyone moved about and the BLACKOUT went into full effect, Sharon stood still for a moment. Her first action would be to find and confront Haleigh. Being that she was on the same "tier" in the club as Alice, getting into the Upper Salon wouldn't be a problem. But just as SHE had a plan, so too did someone ELSE...]

:: she made her way over to the woman. ::

"Mon oisillon, what a pleasure it is to see you. Was our last encounter not enough for you? Have you come back for more?"

:: Her soft French accent lilted as she spoke. This was part of her charm, for such a tough and brassy woman, she often had the voice of a gentle aristocrat. She moved closer to Sharon like a Cheshire cat as she offered her a swig from her flask, knowing she would most likely rather eat lead. ::

"I can't blame you. I have that effect on women..."

[smirking]

[ Sharon looked down at this upstart, Maxine Dupont. Her silver eyes flashed with astonishment at the woman, but instead of power tossing her across the room just now, Sharon took a moment to survey her. She was...UNLIKE any other foe or woman that Sharon had encountered in recent months.]

[ Still, Sharon was not about to be taken in by this little girl, She wasn't some mere wide eyed servant girl in the mansion, she was THE SILVER SWAN! Even SET remarked on her physical power!]

[ She pushes the flask away looking rather annoyed]

You have a lot of nerve, approaching me like this, Maxine.

[ Sharon said bluntly]

You're in my WAY.

And if you don't move, I'll bend you up, fold you into a PRETZEL just now.

"How did you enjoy the opening ceremony...see anything...surprising?"

[ The look on Sharon's face went from slight anger, to more facetious]

You mean beside your still being conscious and standing upright?

[ Sharon allowed herself a moment of humor. If Maxine wanted to try and toy with Sharon, the mutate would entertain her for a moment. She'd have time to catch up to Haleigh, whom she now observed with PERSEPHONE. ]

[Domino was right about one thing, Sharon HAD seen a few SURPRISING things tonight, and the night was still YOUNG.]