A Weekend Affair # 1 - The Great White Reception

[Ruby]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge


:: There was dinner first. Cass didn’t really talk too much, because she knew that she had to behave but since she was seated next to the European Red Queen, she knew that she had to be on her best behaviour. Also, she was really nervous. A lot was riding on this, and she had to make sure that she put on a happy face and show that she was so glad to be on the Black Court and that she was happy with her other Court members. The truth was that sometimes she felt like a toddler constantly being told that she was a bad girl. Looking around, she felt so far removed from everyone. She did her, best, though, to make some small talk with Bretta O’Malley. She HATED small talk. It was so awkward for her. Finally, dinner was blessedly over and she could get changed for the main event. Bretta had told her that she’d see her later and that she was hoping they could talk some more. Cass feigned a smile and told her that she was too. ::

:: As soon as she stepped foot in her room, she stripped back down to her strapless bra and panties and beelined her way to her room where she had left her Ben’s jacket on the bed. She immediately put it back on and hugged herself. She missed her Ben. Somehow, in her mad mind, she had separated Ben into two people: her Ben and The Imposter. Her Ben had such a calming presence that calmed her down no matter what happened. He had been there for her after Kelly’s experiments and mental manipulations and she had been there for him…until Kelly had murdered him. No more calming for her. She was completely and utterly distraught by his death. So much so that she had even attempted suicide over it. She wasn’t sure who found her, but she had gone up to the roof and had slit her wrists. Next thing she knew, she had woken up in the infirmary. Kelly had been pissed and when she was all better, Cass paid for it dearly. Her suicide attempt was the beginning of her descent into madness thanks to Kelly. ::

:: She was happy when The Imposter had texted her back saying that he would escort her to the event tonight. He had passed the first test. She’d have to think of some other ways to test him to see if she could trust him later. Her aides called her to her dressing room and she had stepped up onto the raised platform and they helped her with her dress. ::

Aide: “The Black Bishop will be happy that you’re wearing the dress that he gave you.”

“Mmmm…maybe.”

No, HE didn’t give me this dress.

Aide: “Princess, turn around. Your dress looks absolutely stunning on you.”

I already know it does.

“Can you give me a few moments, please? NOW.”

:: She had her hands on her hips when they all left her. She had her back to the mirror. Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned around. It was exactly as it was the last time she saw herself in it. Only somebody was missing. ::

<< Cass was sitting in the parlour when all of a sudden, her eyes were covered by two big strong hands. >>

*laughing*: “Ben!!”

Ben: “I have something to show you. Come on.”

<< Still laughing, she allowed Ben to lead her some place, his hands still covering her eyes. She didn’t know where they were going, but she knew it was still in the Black Wing because it hadn’t taken Ben long to lead her to a room. >>

“Ben?”

Ben: “We’re almost there.”

<< He had her take a few more steps and took his hands off of her eyes. The first thing she saw was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. She brought up a hand and took hold of Ben’s hand that was now softly massaging her shoulder. >>

“Ben…it’s beautiful.”

Ben: *whispering*: ”Come here.”

<< He led her over to a platform that was situated in front of a huge mirror. He went to the wall that was holding the dress and carefully took it off its hanger. He carefully brought it over to Cass and set it down gently. He went up to Cass and turned her around before unzipping the dress that she was wearing, playfully kissing her exposed skin as he unzipped. Cass gave a happy sigh. >>

*teasing*: “You better not have only brought me here just to have sex in front of a dress.”

<< Ben turned her around again and wiggled his eyebrows. >>

Ben: “That comes later.”

<< He kissed her on the neck before holding the dress open and helped Cass step into it. Once she got into it, he turned her around and rested his chin on her shoulder. It fit PERFECTLY. >>

Ben: “I had it custom-made for you. See the ruby red underlay? It’s a nod to your codename. Look how well it goes with the ruby necklace that I got you.”

<< Cass fingered her necklace. She had a ruby necklace before she came, but it was taken away from her and Ben had given her a new ruby necklace, charmed by Kelly King. >>

*whispers*: "It's perfect."

Ben: “It’s better than I could ever have imagined. It goes great with your body, your necklace, your milky white skin…”

<< He ran his fingers across her chest before trailing them up her neck. >>

Ben: “…your beautiful blue eyes, and your dark hair.”

<< Ben kissed her on the neck again, before nuzzling his nose in that spot. >>

[FLASH!]

:: Cass was now fingering the exact spot where her Ben had nuzzled her. She smiled softly as she looked at herself in the mirror wearing the dress. But she didn’t cry. She couldn’t. Kelly never allowed her to grieve for her Ben properly. Hell, she never allowed her to grieve for him AT ALL. Kelly had made sure that Cass never had an outlet for her grief, always letting it consume her, driving her madder and madder. An aide tiptoed in softly. They never knew what kind of Princess to expect, so they were always wary of her. ::

Aide: *softly*: “Princess, your hair and makeup people are here.”

:: Cass nodded and stepped down when the aide held out a hand for her. The hair and makeup people came in and Cass sat in the chair that they brought. She was getting nervous again. An aide came in to tell her that The Imposter was there so when they were finished, Cass went out to meet him. She was still fluffing her dress as she came in and when she looked up, The Imposter had a surly frown. Cass looked confused. ::

“What—oh.”

:: She smoothed her dress again. ::

“This isn’t me being manipulative or whatever you’re thinking. I told you that I would behave for my Ben and so I decided to honour him by wearing it.”

:: She took hold of his arm. Instantly she began to feel calmer about the event. She looked up at him. A bit of the old Cass, the one that he remembered, came through. She gave him a soft smile. ::

“You still have a calming effect on me. I’ve missed it.”

:: Cass gripped his armed a bit tighter as they began to make their way to the event. She glanced sideways at him. ::

*shyly*: “You look handsome tonight.”

:: Just before they were announced, Cass let go of his arm, and looked into his eyes deeply. She tried to imbue her words and her eyes just how grateful she was to have him do this meaningful gesture of escorting her. ::

“Thank you, Benjamin, for doing this for me.”

:: She reached up, kissed him on the cheek, and then gave him a small side hug before taking his arm once again. ::

 

[Discord]

Red Wedding

Daniel was feeling desperately nostalgic as the plane made it's way towards New York City. There had been many changes in his life over the last several years, including the deaths of TWO Red Queens he was dedicated to. Rebecca Everhart was deliciously evil and Helena Quartermaine had been his mentor since he was a blue blood brit teenager. His blood was still mostly blue, but it had a certain edge to it these days. He was embarrassed to be presented with the lot of these people on the plane. They were traitors to him. Children who wanted to wear their mother's heels and pretend they were actually Queens. He was a bit dramatic himself, but he needed more substance than they could provide him. As they began their descent, he sipped on his whiskey sour, and remembered better days.

"To Helena. To Rebecca."

He remembered the boozy brunches even boozier nights. He remembered excess and power, and glamour. Helena was a force of nature and she had immediately taken him under her wing as they both shared a rather similar way of speaking. The rest was history. He had friends in this New Inner Circle, but he was still bitterly upset at Helena's death. And he was fighting a confrontation. For now, he remained ice cold in his demeanor with a brooding sex appeal that pierced through people's eyes.

Everything was pleasant enough, and Zach Armani was certainly something to slather and lather, but he found himself soon a bit bored, and whenever Daniel was bored, he liked to cause some petty drama. The third whiskey sour was not helping matters.

"Let's see how these bitches can really navigate a COURT."

He would not be stupid about things. Daniel wanted an escape route should he consider leaving the ERC. But he not serve just any queen. They needed to be beautiful, smart, biting, devious and playful. Daniel was intended on inserting himself into the circle of each Queen this weekend, and once he got a better handle on things, could truly see the ties clearly, thanks to his omega level empathy. He would make a bid to one of them, and move his piece forward on the board, so to speak.

He had been pleasant and cheeky at dinner, throwing in a story or two of he secretly believed to be better times.

"This reminds me of the dinner party Helena threw for the biggest shareholders a few years ago. A lovely event."

Shade would be thrown. He arrived at his quarters which happened to be in close proximity to that delicious looking Red Knight, as he requested. Daniel knew a guy like him could most certainly charm such a savage, and he was feeling frisky. Changing and meticulously grooming, The Red Bishop changed into his red suit, a dark and playful, if not a bit rigid representation of the color of his court. In short, it was just like him.
Making his way down, then further down, and then even further down than that, Daniel was beginning to wonder what the bloody hell he was about to walk into it. He wasn't displeased.

"Well. This certainly beats a night of billiards."

[a devious smile curled up in his lips]

"Well depending on what billiards your beating."

He was announced and he did what he did best, looked cool and sexy and bored but interesting. Yes he had modeled in the past. No, you can't have an autograph. Well..alright. He had arrived at the perfect time. Not too early, and not too late. Well, not if he had the right kind of guy on his arms. His beverage was refilled as Daniel did what he did best, sit back, observe, and judge people's fashion choices. And they did not dissappoint. Ava Cassadine looked like a busted Angelina Jolie, Haleigh looked like slutty power lesbian, and Ashley was beautiful and devilishly outrgageous, but she always acted like she was in some hole in the wall bar. He wondered what her decorum would be like up close. But she wasn't here yet, so Daniel went with the second best option - Ava Cassadine. Archer and herself seemed to be engaged in conversation. Or rather, Archer was trying to see just who he could stick his dick into tonight to compensate for the fact that he was living garbage fire. If anybody needed rescuing at this party, it was Ava.

"Queen needs a rescue."

Ava: "And sorry about your men in Cuba. My Bishop got a little trigger hapy while gathering intel."

"All Bishops do, my Queen."'

Ava: "I hope my gift made up for it."

Oh god. Had he inserted himself into some weird kind of sex game? He swallowed hard for a moment, trying to ignore what he had just heard. But thinking of her sleeping with Archer Fairchild made her a lot more...basic. Archer was ready to pounce, and Daniel interjected.

"My Queen, you would perhaps like your drink refreshed?"

He held out his arm, offering to escort her away from Archer and towards a less, predatory area. Thankfully, she agreed and as the two walked over to the bar, he began to gather information on Ava Cassadine.

"So tell me..in all honesty. What do you think of the decor of this party?"

[smirking]

"A Little Free Willy to me, but hey. I'm feeling nostalgic. I wanted to introduce myself, get a small moment, before the weekend descends into chaos..."

He handed her the drink.

"As the only two dual membership holders here, I think we owe it to ourselves to touch base every now and then."

He lifted his glass to his lips taking a deep sip.

"So tell me, Ava Cassadine, what are you seeing for this weekend? And is there any way I can help you?"

Daniel didn't like to mince words as he looked down at her, a little more impressed, before their met. He gave a cheeky smile.

"Your shoes tell me that you most certainly do."

 

[Valkyrie]

The Red Queen's Suite

His arms enveloped her. Her Knight. Her protector. She felt instantly better, pressed against him.

“I’ll always come when you call, My Queen.”

"Don't leave me."

She just hugged him to her for several minutes, soaking in his strength, wanting to feel something close to love. Then she tilted her head up to look at him, her chin still resting on his chest, and smiled. She took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling much more composed. Then she noticed what he was wearing, and marveled at the sight of him in a suit. Then she let out a small laugh.

"Look at you."

She smoothed the lapels of his jacket with her hands. And then, realizing what she had done, she rested her forehead on his chest self-deprecatingly for a moment, before looking back up at him.

"You can take the jacket and tie off once we're inside. And I promise, no more suits for the rest of this visit. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked this of you."

She wasn't about to make someone into something they were not.

“You look stunning, as always. I’ll be clawing out men’s eyes for the way they’ll look at You. And tearing out their tongues for the things they’ll say.”

She smiled, the image arousing, to say the least. Her smile took on a more seductive bent, and she slid her arms back around his waist, bringing their bodies closer.

“Might I have the honor of escorting My Queen to the party?”

She looked up into his eyes, the most amazing hazel you'd ever seen, the color seeming to change as the light flickered around them. Alek should escort her. That was the way of things. And they were trying to impart the image that nothing was wrong in their club. But it touched her that Savage had asked, and with such a sound of hope in his voice, as if he expected her to say no but really wanted her to say yes.

I'm the Queen here. Fuck Alek.

Her hand slipped down into his.

"You may."

She smiled, and stood on her tip toes to press her lips against his.

"I just need to slip on my dress."

She took a step backwards, eyes still locked with his, and her hands reached up to her shoulders. As she turned away from him, the robe fell to the floor.

"I'd really rather stay here on the couch with a six pack and a pizza."

And a wolf.

She sighed, walking over the bed and picking up the dress lying there. It was cut low on top, and cut high on bottom, just how she liked it - if she had to be in a dress at all. She stepped into it and pulled it up, sliding the straps up over her shoulders. She looked back over her shoulder demurely.

"Zip me up?"

She shivered as his fingers grazed her back. She thought about having him put her shoes on, but she knew she wouldn't be able to make it through THAT scenario without laughing at his giant hands trying to buckle strappy satin shoes, so instead she steadied herself with a hand on his arm and slipped them on herself. With one last check that her breasts were in the correct position, she stood facing him, letting out a deep exhale. She slipped her arm through his, placing her other hand on top of the arm.

"Okay, ready, let's go."

They made their way arm in arm to the outside of the Aquarius Lounge. Jack and Alek were there already, waiting. She could see Alek's eyebrow raise at their linked arms, which made her feel triumphant, and that in addition to Savage's pick me up she was feeling quite herself again.

"We go in together, in a phalanx. Jack, you go first. AJ and I will process behind you, and Alek can bring up the rear."

She gave him no small amount of stink eye as she said it.

Alek leaned towards her and whispered.

Alek: "The King and Queen should enter together."

Ashley didn't bother to whisper.

"We will be entering together. AJ is the only one of my Court who cared to ask to escort me from my suite to the lounge. So therefore, he's the one who gets to be at my side. Besides, he is my Knight. And my Knight should be at my right hand. You're in back, Alek."

Alek threw up his hands.

Alek: "You do whatever you want, I don't care."

Ashley smiled, and nodded to the announcer.

"Remember, we are warriors. We are the strength of this club. We are its fist."

Announcer: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Red Court."

The four of them entered the room with military precision, not stopping for pictures. They were not celebrities on the red carpet - they were gladiators entering the field of battle.

 

[Wallflower]

Hellfire Mansion - The Night Begins

The evening seemed to get off to a bit of a slow star, as the visitors were a bit jet lagged and not as social as they likely wanted to be, with the exception of Daniel Reed. He was on point so far, saying all the right things to all the right people. She anticipated there was something he wanted. She would keep an eye on it. The European Black Court seemed to be a giant mess. It's mafioso King seemed far more interested in festivities than coming out of the weekend with anything real and the look of digsut and boredom on Brienne's face was evident. She was unsure as to why the woman wanted to come in the first place. She was a powerful witch, so Amanda assumed they were just trying to come "packed" in case things went sour. The Red Court was a bit young for her liking, but they seemed harmless. In Amanda's opinion, The White Court seemed to be the most fortified, and she knew instantly that Haleigh had invited the club with the anticipation of working with the white court. She would be sure to inform Ava.

There were no security breaches that she could see, so she casually began to watch The Black Princess who was sitting next to a rather uncomfortable looking Benjamin. It seemed a date was exactly what the doctor ordered because Cassandra was decidedly subdued. Amanda was relieved. A somewhat quiet dinner led to a cocktail hour as people began to change into their evening attire. Delicately hanging her new diamond necklace around her neck, she slipped into a custom made very form fitting, very revealing dress as she gave herself a look approval. She loved when fashion met function. In a dress like this she could scale the walls if necessary, and it had been necessary in her life before.

She entered just on the heels of The Red Court's entrance. Ashley on the arm of The Red Knight did not go unnoticed, as Amanda usually noticed what The Red Knight was doing. He was like right out of a romance novel. The gentle giant who's a wolf in disguise. Strong and sensible. Works with his hands. Amanda had oftened entertained the idea of getting to now AJ better, so she was a bit confused. Was this a move of importance? Alek and Ashley didn't necessarily get along like they used to. Or was it some other..business reason. Whatever the case, Amanda ignored it for the time being and waited to take her place. As she entered the room, she was announced as The Black Knight and she posed for pictures. One of Amanda's most deadly assets were her looks. Tall. Slender. Statuesque. Long bone straight hair. She used this to her advantage quite frequently, but she was also a bit conceited and kind of a camera hog. It was one of her few vanities.

Announcer: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Knight Amanda Soto of The Black Court!"

Cobra used her enhanced vision to get a survey of the land. There was quite a bit of activity. Her eyes met with Ava who was surrounded by three men, but the look on her face told Amanda that she was fine. Ava could always handle herself. The White Court seemed to be playing it cool, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to plant a seed she might be able to use later for The Black Court's benefit. She made her way towards Juliette and Liam.

"Il faut casser la noyau pour avoir l'amande"

It was a rather specific coloquialism from the place where Juliette had grown up. In her original life. It meant - "It is necessary to break the shell to have the almond. " Like she had said before, Amanda was a good student. She rubbed the diamond necklace subtly as she hoped it would speak for her namesake to them before bowing in a traditional manner before them.

"White Queen. White King. I am The Black Knight. It's a pleasure to finally meet your acquaintance. Tell me, what do you think of your stay here in the mansion so far. I hope it is up to your standards."

 

[Prophet]

Hellfire Mansion

He made love to his wife for longer than time allowed. Feeling invigorated and ready for the evening, he was a welcome Co-Host for the evening. He did not mind playing second fiddle to Haleigh. This was an event of her own creation and Cameron just did what any other good husband should do - go along with the flow and do whatever was asked of him. The remodel of the lower floors of the mansion had gone smoothly. He knew there were those that would gawk at setting, but he was at least relieved to know that should anybody show any disrespect to him or his wife he could dump them in the Aqua Ring and be done with it. He also wanted a place for Heidi to hang out, to perhaps tempt her from spending at least ALL of her time in the ring with Jack.

Dinner was perfectly decorated and the food was delicious. An exquisite french menu that tasted as expensive as it was. Soon after they retired to their suite as Cameron had his queen another time, and the two separated to get ready, both still enjoyed the surprised of seeing one another dressed to the nines, and they both felt there were some things, no matter how close they were, that should remain a mystery to the other. One of those things was getting ready. He dressed in his white suit. White was not his favorite color, and part of him felt naughty wearing any white at all. From his dresser he grab a custom crown he had made. He was a king by last name and a king of the white court, if anybody deserved a crown, it was Cameron King. It was cocky and bold, just like he was. And if anybody had anything to say about it, he didn't care.

When he was sufficiently dressed, he sat in the parlour of their multiroom suite enjoying a martini, sitting next to the fire as his wife appeared. He smiled and walked over to her, taking in her scent, his nose buried in her neck for a moment as he looked back at her, grabbing her ass and smiling.

"God damn you look good."

Walking over towards the end table, Cameron produce a small ring shaped velvet box as he returned to his wife, grabbing her hand and opening it to reveal a giant sparkling diamond ring.

"I had your wedding ring re-set, and by re-set I had a giant fucking diamond placed on top."


He kissed her lips.

"You are the only woman on the courts bold enough to rule by her husband. It's important you know how much it means to me. They'll see it from the rafters, and they'll know, we understand loyalty. Committment."

Cameron kissed her again.

"I hope everything you want comes true tonight, Haleigh. I love you."

He held out his arm.

"Now, let's go, shall we?"

The two made their way to the Aquarian Lounge taking in it's beauty as a fully finished product for the first time along with everybody else. Cameron was satisfied.

Announcer: "Please welcome our hosts, The White King & Queen!"

The fanfare was sufficient. He gripped his wife at the hip as they smiled for a few pictures, before Cameron moved out of the spotlight for a moment, letting Haleigh have a bit of solitary praise. When they rejoined at the hip, both had drinks delivered to them. Cameron leaned in.

"So, where do we begin, Hales?"

 

[Persephone]

Ava had the unfortunately task of speaking with Archer as the rest of the Inner Circle arrived. He was attempting to get a feel for Ava and what she really thought of him considering he had been stealing from Cassadine Enterprises. But she didn't allow her anger to show, staying cordial with the Black King despite the fact his mere presents made her want to tear him to shreds.. She would play nice and keep the mask firmly in place, for now. Ava 'apologized' for having Archer's men killed in Cuba, and that's when a familiar voice chimed in.

Daniel: "All Bishops do, my Queen."'

She looked to Daniel giving him a polite smile. She had met him on occasion due to both of them having duel memberships to both the American and European Branches, not to mention he had frequented the American Branch quit a bit when Helena ruled. She wasn't exactly friends with the man, but she had no ill will toward him. And he was at least entertaining.

"Truer words, I suppose."

Looking to Archer, her smile remained. Her attempt at being diplomatic.

"I hope my gift made up for it?"

She caught the look Daniel made and cocked up a signal brow with amusement.

"Vintage cognac, Daniel."

She expected as much from a man who looked up to Helena Quartermaine. But really, there wasn't a chance in hell she would fuck Archer Fairchild, and Daniel seemed to catch onto that offering to escort her to the bar and replenish her drink. That was when John stepped up - he knew she didn't want to be near Archer.

John: "Excuse me. My Queen, may I speak to you for a moment?"

"Give me five minutes, John. Mr. Reed here owes me a drink."

Nodding to John to affirm to him that she was perfectly fine, Ava took Daniel's arm that he offered her an walked with him to the bar. That was when she spotted Maxim, the cocky bastard actually showing up. Ava would have to deal with him later.

Daniel: "So tell me..in all honesty. What do you think of the decor of this party?"

He was smooth. Ava smirked as they approached the bar, knowing he was fishing for exactly how freely he could speak with her. Asking the bartender for a hemlock, Ava's eyes shifted around the lounge.

"It's...blue."

She smiled at him with a hint of amusement, not particularly a fan of the decor. The overall architecture was beautifully done, and how they worked in the Aqua Ring was brilliant. But still, Ava preferred dark and sexy to fish tanks.

Daniel: "A Little Free Willy to me, but hey. I'm feeling nostalgic."

"It's beautifully crafted, i'll give them that."

She admitted, throwing Daniel a bone. He handed Ava her hemlock and she took a sip, listening to what he had to say.

Daniel: "I wanted to introduce myself, get a small moment, before the weekend descends into chaos...As the only two dual membership holders here, I think we owe it to ourselves to touch base every now and then."

"So sure this weekend will go up in flames are we? [she smiled] It is a shame we've only briefly met in passing for how uncommon it is to hold a duel membership. But perhaps that can change after this weekend is over?"

She extended him an olive branch knowing he was after one whether it be from her or another King or Queen. According to her intel Daniel wasn't happy with the European royalty after they had killed his Queen Evelyn Pierce. However now that his friend Helena was also dead? She wondered what exactly his motives were to make nice with the American side. Perhaps a murdered Queen is a harder fate to accept than a murdered friend.

Daniel: "So tell me, Ava Cassadine, what are you seeing for this weekend? And is there any way I can help you? Your shoes tell me that you most certainly do."

Ava grinned.

"Direct. I like that."

She turned so she could rest her back against the bar, propping her one elbow on the bar top to lean against it. She held her drink in one hand as she looked out into the crowd. Haleigh and Cameron had just been announced, and pretty much all the the Inner Circles from both branches were present.

"I know that with both branches overthrowing their predecessors, we're each feeling each other out this weekend. I have no reason to hide the fact that i'm interested in fortifying and strengthening my court - every King and Queen wants that here, Daniel. It's just a matter of navigating through the bullshit to get to the prize. What benefits me at the end of the weekend, benefits my court, and benefits my club."

Her eyes shifted to him, a smirk playing along her lips.

"And as for you helping me? I say this is a pretty good start...the best alliances are built upon friendship."

Ava raised her glass toward Daniel in a way that signified a potential new friendship of sorts. At least a cordial one. She didn't trust him or his motives yet, but perhaps a direct insider link to the HEB would be the best way for Ava and the Black Court to get a few moves ahead.

 

[Savage]

The Hellfire Club - - Red Queen’s Suite

Ash: Don't leave me.

"Never."

AJ replied in a low tone, wondering if something was wrong. He held Her close, for a little while, and it ended too soon, in his opinion. But She looked upon him and smiled, and it was like the sun had emerged from behind dark clouds.

Ash: Look at you.

She said, Her hands running along the folds of his dinner jacket. She liked it, he knew. That was what made it worth wearing.

Ash: You can take the jacket and tie off once we're inside.

"Thank you, My Queen."

He replied, with a hint of relief.

Ash: And I promise, no more suits for the rest of this visit. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked this of you.

He shrugged nonchalantly, his hands framing Her waist.

"It's no trouble at all..."

He told her, a little white lie. He would've worn anything She asked, without complaint. He told her She looked stunning, and this time it was no lie. He suggested he'd be causing serious bodily injury to the roaming bachelors for the effect She'd have on them. She smiled at that, and he smiled back, hoping now that he really would have an excuse to hurt somebody for Her. He asked for the honor of escorting Her to the party, though he knew that right belonged to the King. He was prepared for Her to deny him, but still had hope She might say yes. She took his hand in Hers.

Ash: You may.

He grinned wide.

"Yes..."

She leaned up, and he hunched down to meet Her kiss, elated by Her decision and the favor She showed him.

Ash: I just need to slip on my dress.

He looked confused, as She stepped away.

"You aren't wearing your dress now?"

He asked, and then he saw it, laid across the bed. He felt a bit sheepish, but then, he knew nothing about fashion. She turned from him, slipping Her robe off, and it took everything he had to be still. He wanted Her again. He wanted Her always. He tried to think of anything else, as She picked up Her gown and began to put it on.

Ash: I'd really rather stay here on the couch with a six pack and a pizza.

"I'll fetch it?"

He offered quickly. His Queen could have whatever She wanted. If anyone had a problem with it, he'd take care of them. But Her sigh said they couldn't stay here, they couldn't skip the party.

Ash: Zip me up?

She asked, and he was there. He did it slowly, deliberately, careful not to rip it. When he'd brought the zipper to the top he noticed one of Her straps had slipped off Her shoulder. Gently he guided it back up into place, and then he rested his hands on top of Her shoulders. He dropped his head to kiss Her cheek.

"All done."

He rumbled. She turned to face him, and he was mesmerized by the sight and of her in the dress.

"My Queen...."

He remembered to breathe.

"You will eclipse all others tonight."

He said, and then it was time to go. When they reached the lounge, Jack and the King were waiting. His Queen told them their places, something with which the King took issue. She shut him down with little effort.

Ash: We will be entering together. AJ is the only one of my Court who cared to ask to escort me from my suite to the lounge. So therefore, he's the one who gets to be at my side. Besides, he is my Knight. And my Knight should be at my right hand. You're in back, Alek.

Savage seemed to grow in stature then, his chest expanded with both air and pride, and he wore a smile most lupine.

Too bad for you, Little Bear.

The King backed down. Into the gauntlet, the group went. There were flashes of light, shouts and cheers. Nothing slowed them down. Then they were in the lounge.

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club - - White Regency Suite

Dinner had been a hit, with excellent catering and an attentive staff. The Florist had come through, with an elaborate arrangement of the White Calla Lilies, Black Roses, And Red Orchids. Haleigh had the seating assignments orchestrated so that the flowers blocked Heidi from having to look at Juliette, but everyone else could see each other and freely conversate. Almost everyone feasted, even Juliette, since Haleigh had arranged for her Rook to deliver a fresh victim to the vampire, and of course to keep the girl emotionally compliant so as not to disturb the Inner Circle’s meal. Savage was the only one who didn’t eat, which was rare for him, considering his usually voracious appetite, but Haleigh knew the cause, and had a large steak sent to his room following dinner.

Now she was in her walk-in, getting ready for the mixer. The vanity was in here, a piece of furniture that rarely got used. Haleigh was manipulating her hair into the right just-fucked-look. Her dress hugged all the right curves, and gave the bridal vibe, but then Haleigh was the only wife in the Inner Circle, and secretly liked to remind everyone of that. She sauntered out into Parlour, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor, to find her husband ready and waiting.

Cameron: God damn you look good.

He said, pulling her in, nuzzling her neck, grabbing her ass, making her smile. Her hands went up his chest to his shoulders, then up his neck an into his hair around his ears.

“I’m not the only one....”

She replied, and then she adjusted his crown a bit, lovingly. He told her he had her ring reset, and by that he meant he had found a bigger diamond. Her eyes sparkled, and she threw her arm around his shoulders to kiss him.

“Stud, you spoil me.”

Cameron: You are the only woman on the courts bold enough to rule by her husband. It's important you know how much it means to me. They'll see it from the rafters, and they'll know, we understand loyalty. Committment.

Her smile swelled as he kissed her again. She was not a sentimental woman, but in the privacy of their chambers, she wasn’t concerned with seeming vulnerable, not when she was with him.

“I couldn’t have done this without you, babe. Never forget that I love you.”

She said, her eyes locked on his. He told her that he hoped she got everything she wanted tonight, and that he loved her, and with that they were off. The renovations of the lounge had been worth every cent. The place had gone from a dark, dank dungeon to a sprawling aquatic adventure. Haleigh smiled for the cameras, and then left them wanting more. They’d survive. Zach and Heidi were right behind her. Cameron was in her head, asking where she wanted to begin. She took his hand, waiting just inside the entrance for a moment. Zach brought an effervescent Heidi in on his arm.

“Tonight May be the welcoming party for the Europeans, but even more, it’s a celebration of you. They were FOOLS to diminish you, My Knight, and we will make sure they realize their mistake. If ANY of them dares to disrespect you, kill them. I don’t mind going to war.”

 

[Discord]

The White Party

Ava: "So sure this weekend will go up in flames are we? [she smiled] It is a shame we've only briefly met in passing for how uncommon it is to hold a dual membership. But heraps that can change after this weekend is over?"

"That is the goal, Black Queen."

He studied her face carefully and was surprised to find how much he liked the ice. Daniel only knew Ava through the lens of Helena. And Helena hated everyone. Well..mostly everyone. Ava was no exception to this rule, but he did get quite a kick out of her fashion and her deadly attacks. There was a respect there, and Daniel was uniquely qualified to receive it. Bishops were the members on the court who earned value by the information they knew. As an omega level empath, Daniel used his powers in a number of interesting ways to gleam through the surface of things. He focused on the emotions he felt for Helena as he focused for Ava, searching through her energy to find an emotional tie. A positive connection with Helena in some way. He didn't want to work with a Queen that was her enemy. Surprisingly, there was something there. It wasn't the deepest of ties, but Daniel could now confirm that although she had led the charge to dethrone the former queens, she might have felt something in the aftermath. It wasn't ideal, but it would suffice.

Daniel was intrigued.

Daniel: "So tell me, Ava Cassadine, what are you seeking for this weekend? And is there any way I can help you? Your shoes tell me that you most certainly do."

Ava: "Direct. I like that."

The Red Bishop nodded. Pleased with himself.

Ava turned her back towards the bar, leaning on the counter as Daniel followed. Soon, they were both surveying the scene as The Black Queen spoke.

Ava: "I know that with both branches overthrowing their predecessors, we're each feeling each other out this weekend. I have no reason to hide the fact that i'm interested in fortifying and strengthening my court - every King and Queen wants that here, Daniel. It's just a matter of navigating the bullshit to get to the prize. What benefits me at the end of the weekend, benefits my court, and benefits my club."

She was good. A carefully crafted, canned answer. He was tempted to use his power on her, to get her to loosen up, maybe let something slip, but that was a trick he would never pull on a Queen or a King. Bishops, Knights and Rooks for sure. But not the royalty, especially with an Empath of Zach's order around. He manifested his power in a much different way than Daniel, but he was incredibly sensitive. And strong. And firm. And rippling.

The Black Queen smirked at The Red Bishop.

"Okay. Back to the matter at hand."

Ava: "And as for you helping me? I say this is a pretty good start...the best alliances are built upon friendship."

She raised her glass to him and Daniel returned the favor. He didn't want to over play his hand, but he sensed that Ava was a fan of honesty, so he would give her some, just enough to keep her mildly amused or at the very least more curious about him.

"Smashing."

Daniel took a sip of his drink. He had crafted an in, or at the very least piqued his interest. She didn't trust him and he didn't trust her, but they were both willing to play a bit, that was a good sign.

"If you really want to cultivate a friendship, catch me after another two of these."

He lifted his empty glass and shook it.

"It's a sight to see, trust me."

Daniel looked over towards where Ava was originally standing to notice the man who had been standing by Ava when he approached. He squinted a bit before realizing that it was her Rook. Her Rook that he had just completely ignored. His porcelain skin almost turned a shade of red. Thankfully, that moment heralded the arrival of The White Court. He had been so focused on his own personal gain this weekend, he had forgotten he had a gift to deliver.

"I am sorry, I just realized that I stole you from your Rook and disrespected him in the process. I sincerely apologize to him as well as you. I hate to cut this short, but I have a date with The White Knight. Promise me, we will touch base later?"

The Red Bishop kissed Ava's hand and gave her a fun little wink before spinning on his heels and beginning to make his way towards where The European White Court was sitting and The American White Court was heading.

"So far, so good."

 

[Silver]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge


:: Bretta was tired and annoyed getting off the private jet. Usually she was fine flying privately, but this time…THIS time she felt more than a little claustrophobic and it was all due to the White King and Queen. The damn vampire couldn’t be in the sun and, even though she could be in indirect lighting, Liam had ordered that every window be shut so as to protect his precious queen. However, midway through the flight, when she absolutely couldn’t take it anymore, she headed for the loo and used her faerie magick to shrink herself down to the size of a gnat. She allowed herself to flit about in the plane, feeling the effects of the claustrophobia leaving her almost immediately. That is, until that bloody witch Brienne decided that it would be fun to swat at her like she was some fly. Sighing, she became her full self once more and sat down, crossing her legs and glaring at her Bishop, Daniel, who was cheekily giggling at her while pretending to read a magazine or something. Needless to say, the flight was boring but the welcoming committee more than made up for it. Specifically, the American White Rook that had arrived to collect them. The American White Bishop was intriguing, but she did her homework and knew that Guiletta Nefaria was a mob boss. Undoubtedly, Archer would be all over THAT due to the size of his ego. Good luck, Miss Nefaria. You’re going to need it. ::

:: Finally arriving at her suite in the Red Wing, she had had enough of her bloody travel companions, so she had a wee rest before she had to get ready for dinner. Dinner was interesting to say the least, though Daniel did his best to try and get himself executed by bringing up that dreadful Helena. Maybe she should’ve ordered Daniel to stay behind. Maybe she should’ve taken her chances with her King, William Thatcher, who had dropped his first name, Alastair, when he had taken hold of the crown, instead. Sure, Will would’ve tried to get into everybody’s pants the second he came into contact with them, but at least she could’ve handled THAT. Other than that, she could see plenty of interesting characters. She was especially intrigued by the American Black Princess, Cassandra Johnson, who was seated next to her. Bretta was happy to see that. She knew that the poor girl had been driven mad by one Kelly King. Bretta had smiled to herself. If she played her cards right, the girl would tell her EVERYTHING without knowing that she did. However, Cassandra didn’t seem interested in talking and only engaged in some small talk. Once dinner was finished, Bretta made sure to tell her that she would see her later and that she hoped that they could talk more. She watched carefully as Cassandra feigned a smile and agreed with her. The Black Princess truly was a fascinating creature. She couldn’t wait to know more. Another reason why she was so interested in the succubus was her past. She had been born in Poland years ago, which meant that she, too, was European. Bretta wanted to offer her membership to HEB; however, with how she was now…she didn’t want to let Johnson loose on the masses. Perhaps she could coax her to come for a holiday and Liam Forbes would be able to put her back together again in his lab. ::

:: It was really nice to see Heidi Scarborough flourish in the American Hellfire Branch. She and Bretta hardly ever crossed paths at HEB, but Bretta always had a sort of respect for her. Bretta discovered that she actually missed her, when she had left. After all, Heidi was – and is – a valiant warrior and they sure could’ve used her help during the rebellion. Que sera, sera – what will be, will be. The truth was that she was now in her rightful place as Queen and Rebecca Everhart? Rebecca Everhart was gone forever. Bretta welcomed the opportunity to join forces with the American branch, and she couldn’t wait to speak to a few members of the different Courts at the mixer tonight. She was no longer that mousy pushover. It was a new day and a new beginning for both of the Hellfire branches. ::

:: An aide escorted her back to her suite. Along the way, she noticed a security guard walking by with a dog. Bretta couldn’t help but feel superior about that. They had a little guard dog. How cute. They, however, had hellhounds. Bretta glanced back at the dog. Maybe there was more than what meets the eye with this dog? ::

:: As Bretta got ready for the mixer, she texted Will asking if everything was okay back at the Hellfire Estate. It was very uncommon for a Queen to arrive without her King but Will had the tendency to be a bit friendly – with EVERYONE. As much as Will would’ve loved to attend the weekend’s festivities, and enjoy the tasty treats - :garrick: - he heard so much about, he and Bretta both agreed after a long talk that it would be best if he stayed away. He didn’t want to unintentionally fuck it up for Bretta, knowing how much it meant to her, and Bretta didn’t feel like cleaning up his messes. That’s where Daniel came in. Bretta and Daniel had been good, if not close, friends long ago. She had admired him, even respected him. She suspected that he was feeling a bit…unhappy about both Helena and Rebecca’s deaths. She had a conflict about that. She wanted to be there for him, she truly did, but she also suspected that he had ulterior motives for coming along on this weekend ‘retreat’ and she could not, and would not, let him screw this up for her. ::

:: She threw her phone in her clutch and left her room asking an aide if he knew whether or not Daniel Reed had left. Perhaps they could go down together. Reed already HAD left and so she rolled her eyes as she went on her way. Thankfully, there were many aides and servants willing to point her in the right direction to the Aquarius Lounge. She arrived, smoothed her dress down, and waited for the announcement. ::

Announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Bretta O’Malley, Red Queen of the European Branch of the Hellfire Club.”

:: There may have been pictures or some fussing over her, but Bretta was far more interested in getting to the bar. She sat down on a stool, ordered a glass of red wine, and looked around the room, planning out her strategy, figuring out exactly WHO to make connections with. Others may have been more bold, but Bretta first liked to observe. ::

 

[Fathom]

The Hellfire Club - - White Knight’s Chambers

Heidi was purposely smudging her silver eye shadow to fix the mess made by the makeup artist, when a light knock came at the door. She carefully wiped her fingertips clean, then gathered the bottom half of her dress and rose smoothly. As she turned, her gaze left the mirror to find the servant looking at her expectantly.

“What on earth are you waiting for, the door can’t answer itself, you lazy lout!”

The girl scrambled to comply, as Heidi rolled her eyes and shook her head. She trailed slowly afterward. The door was opened to reveal Zach standing there, looking dashing in a white tux, his vest and bow tie patterned with silver paisley. He gave her a winsome smile as he waltzed through the door, one hand extended towards her.

Zach: Diletto, you look ravishing. Jack said he was going to arrive at the party with the rest of his court, so I’ve come to escort you.

She played aloof.

“I would’ve been fine on my own.”

Zach: Most certainly. But why walk alone when you could have arm candy, especially since I come bearing gifts?

He smarmed, revealing a jewelry box. They were earrings, and they were irresistible. She smiled in spite of herself, and he offered to help her put them on. Of course she allowed it. Zach always had a way of winning her over when he really wanted to. He was too attractive to deny.

Next, they were drifting down to the Catacombs, as Zach regaled her with a story; that of Gia’s near execution today. Heidi was deeply amused, and also a bit disappointed. Someday Gia would get what was coming to her. Heidi just hoped to be there when it happened. She was glad to hear Zach say he was tired of giving Gia the benefit of the doubt, that he was finally as fed up as she had always been.

Then they were in their King and Queen’s wake, being cheered and photographed. Beyond the throng, Heidi found herself in awe of the renovated lounge. She hadn’t been able to sneak a peek of it when she was swimming in the Aqua Ring tanks, because they’d kept the windows covered. But now that she could enjoy the results, she was floored. Her Queen was smiling at her, waiting.

Haleigh: Tonight May be the welcoming party for the Europeans, but even more, it’s a celebration of you. They were FOOLS to diminish you, My Knight, and we will make sure they realize their mistake. If ANY of them dares to disrespect you, kill them. I don’t mind going to war.

Heidi dipped her head in a reverent nod.

“Many thanks, My Queen. You —”

She looked at Cameron gratefully.

“And My King — have given me great pleasure tonight.”

After she said it, she had a flashback to the study. Her smile was coquettish, as she gazed at her King.

Haleigh: Alright, don’t make me jealous.

 

[Goliath]

The Hellfire Mansion - To The Party

"Ughhh...."

Ben laid on the edge of his bed, his back against the mattress, his long and giant legs slumped halfway onto the floor. His conversation in the black parlour with Amanda had initially made him feel good. And then reality set in that he had given her more information about himself than he would have liked. Not to mention all of this, he was about to plaster on a smile, put on a bloody suit, and galavant around a giant party with The Black Princess on his arm. To many men, this would have been an invitation to one hell of an evening. Amanda had wanted him to enjoy himself, but Ben only saw work ahead for the rest of the weekend.

"Grrr..."

He let out a deep growl with vibrato as he got off the bed, and entered the shower, turning the faucet to the hottest setting possible as steam echoed off of his body. As the powerful jets shot across his body, he washed away everything. Ava, Cassandra, Amanda, and when he walked out of the shower, he felt a lot more centered. Which he would need to be tonight. Bretta was fine at dinner, and he was pleasantly surprised. She seemed to be taking his advice and playing nice, which was a good sign. But once dinner ended, he felt a pit in the center of his stomach, and it wasn't because of the food, which was delicious. It was because he knew the next part of the evening was about to be awkward.

Ben took his time getting ready for the evening, though he still dressed and prepared himself faster than most. And so he sat in his room for a few moments trying to assess what Cassandra he was going to find in her quarters. She may have told him, time and time again, that she had separated the man he used to be from the man he was, but it was clear that was not the case. She wore his old jacket, she often made remarks about how different he was. She was always highly passive aggressive, and more than that, he was hoping that he hadn't agreed to do something that might end up really hurting her. He was trying to be a nice guy, but he felt chained. How could he ever date somebody with her around? She would ruin it without so much as a second glance and then cry to him about it. Interacting with Cassandra was like a game of russian roulette - he kept pulling the trigger..awaiting a bullet to the head.

And as he met her in the living room of her suite, the gun cocked again as he noticed her dress. A dress he had given her a lifetime ago. She still had it. She was still holding on, and it made Ben very nervous.

Cassandra: "What--oh. This isn't me being manipulative or whatever you're thinking. I told you that I would behave for my Ben and so I decided to honour him by wearing it."

"This makes no sense what so ever."

"You look marvelous."

The Black Princess gripped his arm, giving him a soft smile as Ben's muscles tensed up.

Cassandra: "You still have a calming effect on me. I've missed it."

"I shouldn't be doing this. It's mean."

"Well..I'm here now."

Cassandra: "You look handsome tonight."

They were now about to enter the party, side by side, cementing in public mind that they were some kind of item.

"Do it for your court, Ben."

Announcer: "The Black Princess and Black Bishop!"

Ben stood there in his suit, taking some very uncomfortable photos. He was not a model, and he did not need his picture taken to validate himself whatsoever. It felt pervasive. As he entered the party he did a mental sweep of the room, checking to see where everybody had landed. He wanted to seek out Cobra and Ava immediately but they were both preoccupied, and he had Cassandra on his arm. In the distance, he noticed The ERC Red Queen. Cassandra seemed to have started somewhat of a friendly rapport with the Queen...and Ben needed a drink badly.

"Cassandra. Why don't you say hello to Bretta. It seems like you two really hit it off at dinner. I'll grab us beverages."

She gripped his hand.

"I'll be back soon, I promise."

As The Black Bishop turned his back to Cassandra and began to walk away, he felt a wave of tension release from his body. This was going to be a long evening. He grabbed a scotch from one of the servers as it passed by, looking ahead, he noticed John several feet away from Ava, and he took his moment, to make a quick escape, and get a bit of a breather.

[to John] "I better be getting a raise for this, Johnny boy."

He raised his drink in a celebratory manner.

"You look damn dapper, tonight, my good man."

It was a bit uncharacteristic for Ben to be this friendly, and John was not necessarily a boisterous man, but he was trying to keep the spirit of Cobra's message alive in his heart. He needed to start connecting with people, and perhaps she meant women, but right now, he was not drunk enough to entertain that..and really couldn't as The Black Princess's date. Plus, he did like John. And John liked Ava. Well..probably more than that, so in any case, John was good people in his book.

"So, how is the Black Court faring so far, you think?"

 

[Berserker]

The Aquarius Lounge - Outside

Alek didn't know what Ashley's problem was. They'd stopped even pretending to be a couple a long time ago. Why she would choose now to bring it up with him he had no idea. She needed to move on. He had. Sure, he didn't mind fucking her every now and then. But that was just about sex, not about any remnant of feeling he had for her. They worked well as partners in club business, and there was no reason for her to expect more than that.

He'd finished dressing and made his way to the Lounge. They'd planned to enter together, as a court. He knew Ashley'd cool down by the time she arrived, and then would be all business, so he wasn't worried about it. That was the one thing he'd give her, she knew how to do her duty. His Bishop was there already, waiting..

"Jack."

Alek nodded to him.

"Well done with the visiting White King at dinner. I could tell he was intrigued."

He saw Ashley coming towards them, wearing a nicely revealing dress. That was good, it would be sure to draw the Euro White King's eye, and anyone else they decided was worth attention. It took him a second to realize she was holding onto Savage's arm. He raised an eyebrow.

"We go in together, in a phalanx. Jack, you go first. AJ and I will process behind you, and Alek can bring up the rear."

She was trying to punish him, something she was never very good at. But making the correct impression was more important. He leaned in to Ashley's ear and whispered to her.

"The King and Queen should enter together."

Apparently she was set on being "mad".

"We will be entering together. AJ is the only one of my Court who cared to ask to escort me from my suite to the lounge. So therefore, he's the one who gets to be at my side. Besides, he is my Knight. And my Knight should be at my right hand. You're in back, Alek."

For fuck's sake, it wasn't a date. He didn't need to pick her up at her door. This was business. But if she wanted to be such a woman about it, then fine. It wasn't such a bad thing for their targets to know he and Ashley weren't a couple, and thus was no barrier to any new liaisons. As long as she didn't stay plastered to Savage's side all night. He threw up his hands.

"You do whatever you want, I don't care."

"Remember, we are warriors. We are the strength of this club. We are its fist."

"And most importantly, we are one."

The four of them entered the room, perfectly in sync, projecting as much strength as if they had been wearing armor, Ashley surrounded by large and imposing men, with Alek taking the place of honor and entering last. And that's how he behaved, as if it was HIS court leading the King down the aisle. Once inside he scanned the room.

"AJ, why don't you go and get your Queen and King something to drink."

Alek didn't like the way he'd preened when Ashley had made Alek walk behind her. Savage needed to be reminded of who was in charge. He leaned in to Ashley.

"You handle Liam & Juliette. I saw him eyeing you at dinner. I'll feel out Archer, see if he's worth our time."

He was distracted then by Haleigh's arrival, looking like a goddess. He took a moment to appreciate her lines, before turning back to Ashley, giving her a hard stare.

"Don't forget why we're here."

Alek met Savage's eyes on his return from the bar, then leaned in and kissed Ashley's cheek.

"My Queen."

He noticed that Daniel Reed had just bogarted Ava from Archer, so it was a prime opportunity to see what the only Black King here was made of. He took his pint glass of beer from Savage, then crossed the room to stand next to Archer.

"Don't worry about Ava. She's a bitch."

He took a large gulp of his beer.

"A shame, really, someone that hot."

 

[Juliette De Lacroix]

The Hellfire Club - - Aquarius

They sat at a table near the Aquarium walls. Liam was brought Scotch almost immediately. Juliette's chocolate eyes slid from person to person. Archer had wasted no time swooping in on the American Black Queen, which was to be expected. And then Daniel was there, whisking her away.

"You vill 'ave to take a number if you vant to entertain A-vah tonight, it seems."

Liam: No kidding... Maybe after the novelty has worn off, I'll be able to speak with her about the nukes.

"If our 'andsome devil Archair did 'is part, she vill be 'in dze mar-keht' as dzey say."

Liam: Mm. We'll see.

He replied tersely. She noticed it too, the arrival of the entire Red Court, all together. Their unity was impressive. It was just a shame about the mutt they kept around.

"I vill enchant dze Shark doctor, eef you vill veen o-vair dze Red Queen."

Liam: It'll be my pleasure.

He said, in a tone that made her concerned that he might not be capable of keeping his wits about him. Someone else arrived after the Red Court, and soon they had a visitor.

Amanda: Il faut casser la noyau pour avoir l'amande.

"Tu parles Français?" [You speak French?]

Liam: Fantastic. Here I thought you'd be the one struggling with American colloquialisms. Turns out I should have finished my French Rosetta-Stone course.

He grumbled, and then Juliette graciously translated for him, patting his forearm gently.

Amanda: White Queen. White King. I am The Black Knight.

"Enchanté, Mademoiselle...."

Juliette replied warmly, knowing Liam would at least understand that.

Amanda: It's a pleasure to finally meet your acquaintance. Tell me, what do you think of your stay here in the mansion so far. I hope it is up to your standards.

"Eet 'as been most splindeed so far. The Vite Rook 'as been ez-pecially accomodateeng..."

Her words trailed off, as the American White King and Queen arrived, looking very much the bonded pair. Juliette watched the Queen carefully, still trying to figure it out. The woman had such a rare fragrance to her blood, and it had piqued Juliette's curiosity. Then there was the King, and the power he projected. The American couple would be a focal point for them, for sure. Arriving right after were their court members. Heidi was hanging on the White Rook's arm, lowering his appeal.

"Do tell, Black Knight, are dzey --"

She waved a hand in the direction of Heidi and Zach.

" 'ow do you say... datant??" [dating??]

 

[Wallflower]

Hellfire Mansion - Aquarius Lounge

She watched Liam curiously. He was certainly handsome, but she was a bit surprised that he did not speak French. He was apparently a very brilliant man from what she had heard, the type of man who might know several languages. Perhaps he did and French just happened to not be one of them.

Juliette: "Eet 'as been most splindeed so far. The Vite Rook 'as been ez-pecially accomodateeng.."

"He certainly has a way about himself, doesn't he?"

Cobra could certainly see Juliette's appeal. She appeared so beautifully delicate, with an avian like bone structure and a wildness in her eyes that seemed to flicker just beneath the surface, it was something Cobra identified with. She had seen the same duality in Ava, which was what brought them close together. It took several moments for Amanda shake herself free from The White Queen's charms. At that moment, The White Court arrived and all eyes were on them. The Black Knight took quick notice of the way both Liam and Juliette watched their arrival, which further confirmed to her that there would be a meeting of the minds, and possibly bodies of The White Court, and that was something her Queen needed to know, be aware of, and plan accordingly. Juliette's eyes shifted towards The White Rook, who seemed to be a very popular item on the menu this weekend.

Juliette: "Do tell, Black Knight, are dzey--"

She mindlessly waved in their direction, calm and collected.

Juliette: " 'ow do you say...datant?"

Amanda smirked for a moment. Zach Armani was a favorite of many people on the Court, but he had an especially close relationship with Haleigh, The White Queen herself. Amanda had a feeling that she might be somewhat territorial over him as well, especially against a rival White Queen. Amanda took a sip of her rose colored wine as she circled the rim of the glass with her finger delicately.

"Zachary is not one for dating, your highness. He prefers to keep himself available to many avenues of pleasure, at least from what I've gleamed. But I may not be the highest authority on a man like Zachary...I tend to prefer my men a little more..rough around the edges.."

The Black Knight flashed her cobra eyes for a moment at The White Queen and gave a devilish smile, before they reverted back to their beautiful dark amber color. Juliette pursuing Zach would be good for the Black Court, and it would show Amanda where the two of them (The Rook & The Queen) stood. This was the game of the weekend. She may have been playing with fire, but Amanda liked the heat.

"It appears your game of catch and release has proved very successful..The White King and Queen are on their way, but I am pleased that I was the first fish to take the bait. If there is anything the two of you might require this weekend, please feel free to let me know. And I hope to speak more with you this evening, once we all settle into our drinks.."

Amanda smiled and bowed a traditional bow.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you.."

"King Liam."

[she exentended a hand to Liam, giving him a kiss on both side of his cheeks.]

"Queen Juliette."

[she exended the same honor]

"I am sure you will enjoy the white court..Until we meet again.."

The Black Knight moved through the room, getting lost in the crowd of people as she continued to move through, nodding and smiling all the while keeping tabs on those around her. The next thing that caught her gaze was Alek, who had approached Archer. She made sure to keep an eye on that. The drama was high, the thematic elements were enchanced. It was these moments, when she felt as if she were square in the middle passage of a delicious book, that she embraced. The Black Knight was ready for to strategize and campaign for her court, and lucky for them, she was very good at both of those things.

 

[Neptune]

The Hellfire Club - - Aquarius

He stood outside the Lounge, in a tuxedo the color of crimson, a shawl collar dinner jacket over a black silk shirt, with a full windsor knot in his red tie and rubies on his cufflinks. His only company was the sentries, while he waited for the rest of his court to arrive. He must have checked his watch ten times. The King was the first to show, and Jack gave him a nod of respect.

Alek: Jack.

"Sir."

Alek: Well done with the visiting White King at dinner. I could tell he was intrigued.

"Thank you sir."

He replied brusquely, as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"I offered to give him a tour of the Aqua Ring. With any luck, he'll want to brag about his own facilities. I'll advise you of what I learn."

He said, as the Queen came down the hall with their wild Knight. There was an awkward exchange between the King and Queen. Once the order of entry was settled, they went in like a squad of gladiators. Jack was happy to lead, if only to get it over with sooner. He was disappointed to find Heidi was not yet here. The King tasked Savage with getting drinks.

"I'll tag along, AJ. I'm feeling thirsty myself."

He said, and so they peeled off from Ash and Alek, and headed towards the bar. Jack spotted the European Black Queen at the bar, along with some man he didn't recognize. He was dressed like he belonged here, but that didn't mean he should be talking to Brienne Shaw.

"Who's HE?"

Jack asked AJ, who just shrugged, but seemed to pick up Jack's wariness.

Savage: Hey Lady! That guy bothering you?

Jack made a noise like a scoff, that counted for his incredulous laugh. He put a hand on AJ's shoulder, and patted his chest with the other.

"I'll handle it, AJ. Don't keep the Queen waiting for her drink."

Jack told him, and then he approached Brienne and Bishop. He stood near their bar stools, his back to the door, forgetting to smile.

"I don't think we've met."

He said gruffly, his gaze on Bishop. He didn't introduce himself, he didn't extend a hand. He just waited, patiently, for the mystery man to speak, or for the European Black Queen to say she wanted him to disappear.

 

[Avalanche]

Hellfire Mansion - Aquarius Lounge

Ava grabbed a flute of champagne delicately, her fingers curling around the stem with ease.

Ava: "I never play nice, Archer. That's how I became Queen."

He was picking at her for fun, but it had purpose. Archer fancied himself a bit of an idiot savant when it came to quickly finding people's boundaries and ticks. When you knew what got under people's skin, you gained a bit of power over them.

"Good Girl."

Ava: "If you wanted nukes, darling? All you had to do was ask. We may be from different branches, but we're still black royalty. Whatever benefits you benefits me."

He feigned amusement at her statement.

"Well this munter certainly feels a sort of way about herself, doesn't she?"

Archer had long been used to people like Ava Cassadine. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and raised to believe that she was extraordinary if not for any other fact than she had a fancy last name. And every Cassadine he had encountered had a deep sense of pride and loyalty about their family name. People were the same. If you pricked them, they bled, if you stole nukes from their daddy's business, they silently stewed. Archer was not one for lines of propriety, he operated around them. Why form some alliance with ties and conditions and expectations, when you could move in, sweep through, take what you wanted and worry about the consequences later? He liked open ended arrangements. Easy, laissez faire type of deals. Nothing concrete. People in Hellfire died too frequently for that. The Fairchild Crime Family, a family he had been recruited into by his adopted father MIchael Fairchild when he was thirteen, had been robbing companies of their resources for over three decades. The Black Market had no rules. After the death of his adopted father, Archer had taken the reigns, and it's latest incarnation, Sub Zero, was a global organization, that some might consider to be a terrorist group, or at least most national governments had classified it as such. He didn't care about names, he cared about resources, so him having possession of Cassadine weapons was not a personal attack on the woman. They were nukes. They didn't have logos plastered on the side of them. And he wondered if Ava would be surprised to know that as the leading manufacturer of such weapons, half her stock was in the hands of people who had acquired them via devious means. It was the name of the game when one made such dangerous assets. But all these thoughts running through his mind weren't necessarily light cocktail chat. This was a marathon not a sprint.

"Oh I have plenty nukes...darling. In any case, I'm sure they fetched a pretty penny."

Ava: "And sorry about your men in Cuba. My Bishop got a little trigger happy while gathering intel."

Daniel: "As most Bishops do."

"Oh this ponce."

Daniel Reed was a poofter with a biting tongue and an obxnoxious confidence. He tolerated Daniel because he was a valuable source of information for the goings on in Hellfire Europe, and his discretion was unparalleled.

Ava: "Truer words, I suppose."

"Daniel, you minx! A red suit!? Revolutionary! Come now give us a spin!"

Ava: "I hope my gift made up for it?"

He had found he bottle of Louis XIII cognac, which was his favorite. He did not, however, drink it.

"Never trust a Cassadine."

His father would often say.

"It became a valiant paper weight for my emotional rantings and feminist poetry."

Ava: "Vintage cognac, Daniel."

"That's your stage name at the Limelight Lounge, inn't Danny boy?!"

John: "Excuse me, My Queen, may I speak to you for a moment?"

"Blimey. I don't have anything contagious, I swear."

It seemed as if Ava had become the belle of the ball, and it also became very clear to him that people thought she needed to be rescued from Archer. Ava needed rescue from no man, that was clear. But he was a bit irritated that so many people were trying to edge him out. He HAD wanted to talk...a LITTLE bit of business with Ava. He wanted to see how committed she was to this American cell. Their finances and wealth was so co-mingled, he thought she might be interested in taking a little off the top for herself. Have certain things fall off the truck, things that Archer could re-sell at triple the price and give her a cut, help her garner a little nest egg. Working alongside with other courts always left one open to be blindsided. Sub Zero didn't just buy, sell and trade weapons. They dealt in commodities. Highly valuable and sought after commodities. Archer could help Ava create a path for herself should she need to take her heels off and throw her balls on the table.

Perhaps it was the cocaine, or the million glasses of cognac he had already had this evening, but it appeared that when it came to Archer Fairchild, Ava wanted to draw a clear line. One that didn't involve him. And it was clear that she had MANY eyes on her, eyes that wanted to protect her. So maybe she didn't need him at all. Archer didn't like this feeling.

Daniel won this round, surprisingly as Archer found himself alone with The Black Rook. The two stood next to each other in silence for a moment.

"Don't worry, mate. She blew me off too.."

Archer leaned in.

"Aqua di Gio?"

he sniffed heavily.

"It's nice."

"Well this is bloody awkward."

Finally he was approached by Alek, a far more friendly face. When Archer was The Black Rook and Alek was The Red Knight, the two had been friendly social acquaintances. Alek didn't put on heirs, and Archer returned the favor. A hundred thousand beers and a few cigars later, they had found out that they came from very similar backgrounds. Alek had been taken in by Helena, Archer had been taken in by Michael Fairchild. They both knew what life was like on the other side, which is something that NONE of these other people knew much about. It gave them both a sense of clarity on things.

Alek: "Don't worry about Ava. She's a bitch."

"That's puttin' it lightly."

Ava: "A shame, really, someone that hot."

"It shall make the conquest all the more worth it."

The two took several steps away from John who was now being approached by Benjamin Lewis, The Black Bishop. Archer paid neither of the two men any mind.

"Eh, what am I saying. I like 'em a bit easier than that."

[smirking]

"Speaking of. The old ball and chain arrives with The Red Knight on her arm? What's up her ass this time?"

Archer took a sip of his drink.

"Or who I guess is the more imperative question."

Archer looked over to see Brienne, not busy making any friends.

"Though who I am to talk. My Queen makes Hitler look like just a guy who wanted to paint pretty pictures."

[laughing]

"Please tell me you have something fun going on this place...and maybe a little something fun for me to enjoy?"

 

[Pathfinder]

New York City - Upper East Side

"Fuck me you BEAST!"

< Her wails could be heard from three stories up as a naked Erika King was performing in the privacy of her bedroom. Up and down she rode, her ass cheeks barely covered as she grinded up and down, her hands rubbing over a particularly cute blonde man's torso. She was feeling good. And more importantly..POWERFUL these days, thanks to the moonstone bonded within her body. If her family thought she had been insatiable before, they had no idea what they were dealing with now. Her bedroom companion's arms moved from behind his head to her breasts, cupping them aggressively as she rode. >

Man: "Uh...yeah, ride me!"

"You like that, daddy?"

< She flexed her womanhood around him. >

Man: "Yes. Don't stop!"

"Oh I can't stop, stud! Now FUCK me like you mean it!"

< He pumped inside of her like a jack rabbit as her screams and moans became even more dramatic and loud. One of Erika's favorite pasttimes was bringing a man to the brink of ecstacy and throwing them over the edge with wild abandon. As a teenager, she had been labeled a sex addict by many of the therapists she'd had over the years, often changing them when her mother had found out she was fucking them, but as a psychiatrist herself, Erika knew that her need to cum at the drop of a hot had more to do with the lack of validation she got from her family. Plus, it was a lot of fun. >

Man: "I'm gonna...I'm...Oh god!"

< Erika's wild cobalt blue eyes peered into his soul as she interlocked their hands, forcing them behind her with a strength she did not have a few weeks ago. She rode him methodically, with passion, and watched his face as he came inside of her with the strength of a horse. The cacophany of wild screams and grunts subsided after a few moments as Erika rolled on to her side, grabbing a joint from her nightstand and lighting it mentally. She took a deep hit and passed it to him. >

Man: "That..[inhaling the joint] was...[puffing out a cloud of smoke] incredible."

< Just the kind of words that Erika wanted to hear. She grabbed her phone from her night stand as she looked at her messages. There were several from her mother and even one from her brother, all wondering where she was, paired with several reprimandings about how impolite it was to be late. Erika wasn't much of an eater due to her wasp upbringing, and she really didn't want to sit in a room where a bunch of people would be stroking her brother and his wife's ego. She got enough of that in her everyday life. From now on, Erika was on her own schedule. >

"Thanks, Simon. You aren't so bad yourself.."

< She trailed a finger down his pecs, and his happy trail to his cock, which she grabbed firmly with her hand, giving Simon Pratt a cheeky smirk before her face turned stone cold. >

"Now get out."

< Simon looked at her curiously. She wasn't joking. >

Simon: "Seriously."

< Erika laughed. >

"Seriously. Get the fuck out. Alfred will summon a town car. Alfred?"

< And elderly butler entered the room, seemingly unphased by seeing two naked people in front of him. >

"Simon needs to leave..like now. I've got a party to attend. Can you have a town car pull around?"

Simon: "I can't believe you're pulling a me right now."

< Erika rose from her bed, stark naked as she crossed her arms and smiled. >

"Come on Simon. This is what we do. I call you when i'm in New York...I fuck you senseless, we pretend to make plans for brunch the next day, and we don't speak to each other until we inevitably wind up at the same Hamptons party. And the cycle repeats. I'm just cutting out the middle man this time."

< Simon looked at Erika curiously before rising from the bed himself, pulling his pants on before scurrying over to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. She remained annoyed. >

Simon: "Well then...I'll see you at the Boardy Barn, I guess."

"You might."

< Soon her sexual distraction had left and she was free to pamper herself. Clapping her hands, music began to play through the surround sound stereo system in her penthouse. She was feeling a little old school this evening. She spent the next two hours or so, meticulously grooming herself and admiring her reflection in the mirror. The moonstone had given her a surge of vitality. Every sense felt heightened, her skin was glowing. Her hair was thick and strong, yet lustrous and silky. Her body...was sinful. She was experiencing power in a way she never had before and the fact that it was a full moon only seemed to tempt the moonstone to flaunt it's power. In short, she felt untouchable.

< In her silk bath robe, she put on her lipstick, before kissing the mirror and winking at herself. She had a long bout of time ahead of her. She didn't trust other people to do her hair and makeup. By the end of it, she ended up looking light some kind of highlighted, over bronzed, french whore. So she had immersed herself in the ways of beauty. Erika had decided that she was not going to leave the mansion until she had earned a position on a court, preferably one that annoyed her family. She was done being in their shadow, tired of them underestimating her savvy and ability to navigate complex social situations. She knew she was a little...quirky..but that quirk had it's benefits, and it was certainly better than the lot of washed up, botoxed, fake tit bitches that currently held titles. >

< She stood in front of her immaculate and incredibly large mirrored closet, pressing buttons on the control panel until a side closet of fabulous gowns opened to her left. Carefully looking over her options, she selected something in a blueish silver, pairing it with a star tiara, knowing how much it would annoy her brother. When she was satisfied with her dress, her face, and beautifully layered hair, she summoned Alfred once more, as he escorted her downstairs and into a town car on the way to the Hellfire Mansion. >

< In those few quiet moments in the car, Erika seemed a bit more sober and cerebral. For years, she had been a thorn in her side to her mother and brother. Diabolical. Petty. Dramatic. Trouble. And most of the time, she wore this as a badge of honor. She thought them a bit scared of her and what she might be capable of, and they should be. Her mother and her brother were both forces of nature, and every member of the King family was a bit sadistic..but Erika had a certain quality about her that made her sadism a bit scary. She had no problem hurting herself or others in order to get what she wanted. She pushed the boundaries of taste, she pushed people to their edge, and she enjoyed it. Erika had learned long ago that even bad press was good press, and she had a penchant for bad press. They were worried that if she were given any kind of real power, she would destroy all that they had worked for. And to be honest, she kind of wanted that, if only to show them what she was truly capable of. >

< Cameron's bitch of a wife wanted to expand her empire? She was going to have a rough go of it, if Erika had anything to do with it, and as she pulled up in front of the mansion, she suddenly had a rush of calm rush over her. She was home, ready to claim a legacy that should have been hers at BIRTH. These others...these tagalongs, were pretenders. But SHE had the bloodline. SHE had the pedigree, the power and the presentation REQUIRED to be a TRUE ruler of Hellfire, and she hoped they were ready. >

< She sauntered through the halls, her click clacking heels resembling the Wicked Witch of the West's signature tune as she headed down towards the catacombs, fashionably late. A well timed spell later and the announcer found himself heralding her welcome into the lounge. >

Announcer: "Ladies & Gentleman. The beautiful. The iconic. The imcomprable Miss Erika King, Legacy member of The Black and White Courts."

< Erika soaked in the spotlight like a sponge as eyes began to notice her attire, not falling in line with the standard red, white or black attire. It was perfect. She grabbed a flute of hemlock from a serving tray as she looked at the scene around her. Immediately she found her brother, her seemed to be heading towards the European White Court. Her eyes narrowed. >

"Looks like that bitch Haleigh is already working her magick."

< And then she saw him. A delicious, ripped man on the arm of The White Knight, a miserable little wasp of a bitch who thought herself the messiah of knights. Cameron loved her and so by proxy, Erika hated her. She did not deserve such delicious eye candy on her arm. She decided that if Haleigh and Cameron wanted to woo the European White Court, she wasn't going to make it easy. >

"CAMERON! Oh! Cameron! How LOVELY it is to see you!"

< She spoke with the rehearsed skill of a veteran actress. Everyone in the King family knew how to fake it when required. Cameron would recognize this voice as there was no substance behind it. >

"My Goddess, you look so dashing! And I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought a crown was appropriate for tonight."

< Erika looked at Haleigh with a sadistic smirk. >

"SIS! Why you look beautiful! And you're hair! It's so short...How..."fun" for you! So bold!"

< She turned herself towards The European White King and Queen. >

"Our friends from across the pond! I, of course am Cameron's sister, Erika! Oh he's told me so much about you, all of it good I promise!"

< Erika winked at Zach with a playful smile before turning back towards the group. >

"Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt what I assume to be important court business! Where is the bar in this place?"

< Her eyes went back to Zach. >

"Could you help me find it?"

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Club – The Aquarius Lounge


Gia, in her long, flowing, white gown, was running along through the catacombs. She was late as usual. She never should’ve taken a whole Ambien for that nap that she took. She should’ve taken a half of one. It was just that damn Zachary. From the way he had looked at her, from the way that he spoke with her, it was almost as if he KNEW her little big secret. But that wasn’t right. Cass wouldn’t have told him. Kelly had made the succubus, bless her heart, so batshit crazy that Gia felt that it had been safe with her. After all, she had lost somebody too.

Even though that somebody was still alive and walking around Hellfire as the Black Bishop.

Gia liked Cass. She didn’t love her but she liked her; especially when she was in her manically playful and sexy mood. At one point, she even respected her from a distance. Back when she, Amanda Soto, and Benjamin Lewis were pretty much the ‘Holy Trinity’ of the Black Court, Gia even envied her. Cass had it all: the gorgeous and adoring boyfriend [Ben], the gorgeous and smart best friend [Amanda], and even Cass, herself, was gorgeous and fun loving. She could make friends with no problem. She had made friends with Heidi, Zachary, Haleigh…even Cameron. Cass even seemed to make the Black Queen at the time, Kelly King, beam with pride. Perhaps, Gia mused, that was the reason why Kelly had destroyed her. She had been a loyal friend to Haleigh. It was too bad, because Cassandra had been awesome on the Black Court. She was lethal and brutal when she had to be, and she was friendly, warm, and loving when she didn’t have to be deadly.

As she turned the corner, she heard the announcement.

Announcer: "Ladies & Gentleman. The beautiful. The iconic. The imcomparable, Miss Erika King, Legacy member of The Black and White Courts."

So I’m not the only one who is late.

As she approched the open doors, the announcer started to open his mouth again. She spoke to him through gritted teeth.

*deadly*: “Don’t you DARE announce my presence.”

He closed his mouth and looked down, while Gia managed to slink behind some people walking up the stairs. She could see Cass and Bretta, the European Red Queen, talking at the bar. Gia let herself sink into a nearby booth and prayed that nobody noticed that she was VERY late. A waiter strode by and Gia took a flute of champagne, as well as some cheese and crackers, from his plate that he proffered her. This was going to be a long night.

 

[Persephone]

The conversation with Archer was as she expected it to be. They were both feeling each other out and trying to see exactly how far they could push each other's buttons. Ava despised anyone who tried to benefit off her family's name without her knowledge, while Archer's entire business was built upon the theft and selling of name branded products on the black market. Sub-Zero was notorious and Ava wasn't naive, her father having dealt with them for years. She KNEW they had been stealing weapons from her company for years, her father allowing it as a mutually beneficial alliance. But NUKES? That was a different story. She was unaware of that and it pissed her off. Cassadine nukes weren't an every day, run of the mill nuke. They were built around the TO virus, the latest models specifically designed by Haleigh herself. But Ava played nice....as nice as she could at least. But lucky for her, Daniel escorted her away to get another drink.

Much like Archer, Daniel was also trying to feel Ava out. Except he was far more tolerable company and Ava actually found him entertaining. They both seemed to understand that this entire weekend was based around building alliances and power plays. While Ava didn't trust Daniel, she would at least see where this newly formed 'friendship' would lead. She could certainly use someone with his abilities in her pocket. And while she did have Zach at her disposal, he was loyal to the White Court above anyone else. It was all a huge fucking game, one that made Ava need more hemlock and a good fucking.

Raising her glass to Daniel, he returned the gesture, both on the same page.

Daniel: "If you really want to cultivate a friendship, catch me after another two of these. It's a sight to see, trust me."

He lifted his empty glass and Ava actually laughed.

"Oh I have no doubt. [to the bartender] Another drink for the Bishop."

The bartender began to make Daniel's drink as Ava downed half of hers. She noticed Daniel looking over at where they had been standing, glancing over to see Archer standing with Alek. She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. John was also there, but looked far less interested in whatever the two kings had to say.

Daniel: "I am sorry, I just realized that I stole you from your Rook and disrespected him in the process. I sincerely apologize to him as well as you."

Ava shook her head, dismissing Daniel's apology.

"Oh he's well aware i'll be swept away by numerous people tonight....although far less entertaining than you i'm sure."

Ava smirked as she took the drink from the bartender and handed it to Daniel.

Daniel: "I hate to cut this short, but I have a date with The White Knight. Promise me, we will touch base later?"

"Absolutely."

Ava's eyes didn't leave Daniel as he made his way across the room. It was only when Daniel passed by Archer, Alek, and John that they stopped. Alek and Archer were looking at her and Ava smiled 'pleasantly', lifting her flute of hemlock to toast them both. Bringing the rim of her glass to her lips, she peered over it at them before finally Ben approaching John caught her attention. Ava placed her empty glass of champagne on the bar and began to cross the room. Her eyes met with John's, a silent indication that she wanted him to meet with her when he was done. Ava then disappeared down a corridor into one of the private lounge rooms.