The Blackout Party

[Masque]

Hellfire Mansion – Corridor, From Black to White




Before she knew it, Gia was flat on her back, looking up at the Little Mermaid. Unfortunately for her, King Triton’s trident was pinning her to the floor. She couldn’t even move her head. Heidi began talking: blah, blah, blah…a clock…blah, blah, blah. Before Gia could utter a reply, a stream of water went up her nose and down her throat. Gia immediately choked.

Fathom: “THAT was for disrespecting me earlier, when we met.”

NOTHING you do/say is worth ANYTHING.

Then came another spray of water, longer and harder. Gia choked and coughed.

Fathom: “THAT was for disrespecting Emiko. The White Rook is no mere lackey.”

That’s what YOU think. We are ALL lackeys here.

The hypocrisy of Heidi’s statement marveled Gia. Just because she and Emiko were on the White Court doesn’t mean that they could walk around as if their shit didn’t stink…and they couldn’t even see it in the way they were treating their own fellow Court member, the White Bishop. Uh, hello?? Gia would’ve liked to be the one to take the wind out of Heidi’s sails and tell her that she may be the White Knight, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t irreplaceable. But…no. Gia would let her find THAT out on her own. Soon she was choking on another stream of water, longer, faster, and harder. Gia tried to resist, she could feel her body convulse. She felt like she was drowning…and then Heidi let up.

Fathom: “THAT was for disrespecting the White Queen with your unpunctuality.”

Gia gasped, sitting up, choking and coughing up water on the floor beside her. She could see her father’s bodyguard, now HER bodyguard, running up to them.

"Now I know you must wish to kill me by now, but don't try anything stupid. You have two choices, darling. You can join US.... or you can join your father."


She cast a glance at the body that laid right next to Chrissy, then looked back at the new would-be Bishop.


"Unless you're a moron with a death wish, you'll report to the White Wing, and await your Queen. I recommend making HASTE.... if you want to live."

Max: “Miss Nefaria!!”

Gia held up a hand, signaling him to STAND DOWN. She had this. Gasping and coughing still, she stood up and shook her head. When she spoke, her voice was raspy and hoarse.

“I’m fine, Max.”

She threw both arms around Heidi AND Emiko, hugging them close. A smile was on her lips.

“It was just a little…BONDING exercise for the White Rook, Knight, and Bishop, that’s all.”

She looked from Emiko to Heidi.

“Next time, ladies, let’s just do shots instead.”

Gia pulled her arms away and stepped over the body. A frisson of anger went through her. Her father COULDN’T be dead. NO WAY. She smoothed down her dress and nodded at Max.

“Max, let’s go. I have a meeting with the White Queen.”

She strode past him as if she didn’t just have a near drowning a few seconds ago. She couldn’t, WOULDN’T, let herself break down. That would be showing weakness, and weakness would not do for the White Bishop. Weakness was what got you eaten alive at Hellfire…among other things.

Killing the ONLY family I had left…well played, Diana. Well played.

Arriving at the White Corridor, she turned to Max.

“You can go back down to the party, Max. I can handle this from here.”

Smiling, she entered the White Wing – and froze as she spotted the White Princess up ahead. She groaned inwardly.

This just isn’t my lucky day.

Sighing, she put a smile on her face and moved forward.

“Well, hello there! Congratulations on the new position!”

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- White Wing

Haleigh had gone through the private chambers of the Rook, the Bishop, and the Knight. She rifled through their personal belongings, took pictures of their pictures, and learned everything she could learn about her new 'family'. She didn't need to be concerned with being discovered, while every one else was out partying. it was still too early in the evening for anyone to have brought a lover/victim back to their beds. Before she left each suite, she released a black widow spider somewhere in the bedroom. Would they find it? Probably not right away. But when they did? It'd be creepy as hell. The thought made her smile.

She memorized the camera locations as she went, and updated her mental 'map' of the layout. She let herself back out into the main hall of the White Wing, after her recon was done. She sauntered down the central corridor of the White Wing, looking closely at the portraits on the walls. Some dated back to the early days of American culture. There was a 'Join, or Die' painting, surrounded by some portraits of a few of the founding fathers. There were past presidents and first ladies, and other historical figures. Some of the portraits very fairly recent. Many were people of prominence. Haleigh deduced that these were all former members of the White Court.

Masque: Well, hello there! Congratulations on the new position!

"Yeah, thanks, I guess."

Haleigh turned to look at the new arrival, and recognized her immediately. If she was granted access to THIS area.... she must have taken her father's place. Haleigh called to her from across the hall.

"Giuletta Christina Nefaria. What a mouthful of a name. You still go by what your father called you.... Chrissy?"

She began to peel away from what she'd been looking at, and walk towards the new White Bishop. She was several years younger than Haleigh, by the look of her, but looks could be deceiving. Haleigh knew a little about her already, though, as she had known her father and he absolutely would NOT shut UP about his little princess.

"Speaking of your father, sorry he went to prison. Well.... sorry/not sorry. I hope you don't hold it against me. I wouldn't have given the feds what they needed to take him down if he hadn't tried to blackmail me after SHIELD made me the poster girl for the Avengers."

Several paces later, she reached the place where Masque stood. As she neared, she noticed the girl's hair was dripping wet, and her mascara was running. Haleigh pulled a little metal case from thin air, and after opening it, offered the Nefaria heir a handkerchief.

"Have you been spending much time with the British Jellyfish?"

 

[Nogitsune]

Hellfire Mansion - Black Quarters

Nogitsune grinned with perverse delight as The Cold Fish went to work on Chrissy. She breathed in deeply with an exaggerated motion, reveling in Masque's pain. But it was clear that this little one did not yet get the message.

Emi stiffened, Masque throwing her arms strangely around her and Heidi. After the girl released them and started down the hall, she turned her head to Heidi and raised an eyebrow at her.

"I think Miss M expects a little bit more repentance from her, don't you agree?"

Watching Masque begin to converse with the new White Princess, Emi reached up and snapped her fingers. Masque would suddenly find that all of her clothing had disappeared. Then she would see in front of her her father, now a rotting corpse. Any place she looked, another would appear, until she was surrounded on all sides by a crowd of reanimated copies of her father. Their teeth were snapping as they lunged for her, trying to bite and tear her flesh. Closer and closer they came to her, penning her in.

Satisfied, Emi turned on her heel to walk away, next to Heidi.

"Now, what shall we do next?"

 

[Talisman]

Hellfire Mansion - Lunar Ballroom/Studio 54

< One by one, The Queens of The Hellfire Court answered the siren song of Talisman's spell. All around her the scene began to reach a fever pitch as guests on the dance floor drop their inhibitions and let the spell take hold. The dancing became wilder and the debauchery reached a new level as women and men alike both began to take their shirts off and revel in the pulsating beat of the music. Kelly began to walk closer towards the middle of the dance floor as Diana was the first to arrive, now looking a lot more like she did when the two of them first met. >

Snapping her fingers, Kelly's outfit and hair began to shift as well as her dress morphed into a sleek black jumpsuit and fuller bodied, big and beautiful hair.

Malice: "Well....WELL. I hope your rhythm matches your posturing, Shaw."

< Kelly laughed. >

"Oh just shut up and enjoy the show, ya old bitch."

< Moving closer, the dancers circled in around Kelly and Diana as Kelly swayed back and forth to the beat moving closer and closer until it was very clear that they were dancing with EACH OTHER. As their bodies danced closely together with a horde of throbbing bodies around them, Kelly leaned in and whispered in Diana's ear. >

"I think it's time we got better acquainted."

< Giving a cheeky smile she groped Diana's ass before spinning on her heels and bumping their hips together. From the corner of her eye, she saw Helena approach the ballroom and as she entered she fell under the effects of the spell as well, her body sparkling for a moment until she shifted into her former self's boldest seventies fashions. Kelly waved her in. >

Enchantrah: "Are you KIDDING me? Way to DATE us Kelly."

"You're an omnimorph, Helena. Nobody could date you if they TRIED! Now get out here!"

Enchantrah: "Fine, fine. I'll have my personal fun later. Until then...Let's dance!"

< Helena moved towards Diana spun her around as the three of them began to dance. An emerald green sparkling mist began to fill the arena as glitter rained down from the sky and the crowd cheered. Soon a squad of hot shirtless men was making their way towards the Queens, dancing with them, picking them up in the air and feeling all over their bodies. This was a spontaneous choreographed dance but one where everybody instinctively knew the moves. As the men took each woman to the side, Kelly stood in the center and watched them with perverse pleasure. After all of this time, after everything each of them individually had been through in their lives, they could still give into decadence, still tap into that part of them that was fancy free and fun. They OWNED that part of themselves and it was one of Diana's tenets - Power without Consequence and not just that of the mutant variety. >

< Kelly danced her way closer towards Diana as they were in between two very attractive shirtless men, their sweaty, glitter covered bodies heaving up and down as Kelly and Diana sit side by side. >

"I hope you are enjoying yourself.."

< smiling. >

"But this isn't it..some ballsy, annoying, self righteous and downright bitchy blonde I know keeps telling me I have a stick up my ass and that I need to remove it. Sound familiar?"

"Consider the stick removed and note taken. But this whole production has a point. My skill and quick thinking might have kept me alive, but it's become clear to me...I've known YOU for over [whispering] thirty years and yet..[gesturing around] HERE? I'm a stranger. It's for you...for both of you. To know who I am...to share in the history I have with you."

< She turned to face Diana, smirking seductively as they began to dance, their hands up in the air, seductively swaying in and out to the beat of the disco music pumping in the ballroom. The scene was beginning to draw quite a crowd, which really, was the point of a night like The Blackout Party. >

"Happy Blackout Party, Diana."

< Kelly leaned in and KISSED Diana on the lips for a few moments as another component of her spell began to activate very quickly. Soon Diana's mind would begin to FLOOD with images that were incredibly realistic, accurate and downright shocking when comparing them to her real life. >

<< FLASH! >>

1978 - Studio 54 - New York City

<< A scene much like the one unfolding around them now was well underway in the scandalous and salacious Studio 54. All around people were expressing themselves, giving into their hedonistic desires. >>

<< A cut scene. We see a much younger Diana in a VIP booth of sorts, surrounded by beautiful people - some of them include Christopher Victory and Adam Chandler. Across the room, we see a young Kelly Shaw dancing in a circle of friends who had convinced her very begrudgingly to ditch studying for her finals and come out dancing with them. >>

<< Flashing lights and disco strobes dance across each of their faces. >>

<< Some time later in one of the many labrynth like halls in the club, a gentleman caller begins to antagonize Kelly, attempting to GROPE her and have his way with her right then and there. A watchful eye from around the corner surveys the scene from a moment. >>

Kelly: "I said get OFF of me you CREEP!"

<< ZARK! >>

<< Kelly dispatches one hell of a mystic bolt at the man, sending him BLASTING back into the wall, knocking him out cold. >>

Diana: "Impressive."

Kelly: "Oh my god! Did I kill him?!"

Diana: "With any luck."

<< Diana extends her hand to the woman. >>

Diana: "Diana."

Kelly: "Kelly...nice to meet you. And not to be mean, but if you say anything about what you just saw, I got another one of those blasts at the ready."

Diana: "It's always nice to meet somebody who has no idea who they're dealing with. Your secret is safe with me. Let me buy you a drink. There's some people I'd like you to meet."

< Kelly continued to share her memories with Diana. Decades of history began to flood Diana's mind. She saw a studious Kelly studying for exams and a glamorous younger version of herself throwing the books away and dragging Kelly out to a fashion show! She even saw herself WALKING in a fashion show as Kelly sat front row and center. She saw the early days of Kelly's introduction to MysTech, of her contributions. She saw the moment Kelly found out she was pregnant, the altercation with Duncan in Greece and Kelly's subsequent return to New York City and the confrontation that ensued on a rooftop. She saw Karen and the loss of her child. In a very short amount of time, Diana found herself having a WILD new awareness of the mysterious woman that had shown up on Sheena Island talking of bringing back the old days and making them better. She saw their history now, she felt their history. More than that, she could remember those times from her own counterpart version, experiencing a bit of dual awareness. As Kelly pulled her lips away from Diana she smiled, both of them looking at each other with a knowing glance. >

"I'm here for the long haul, Diana. Should you ever doubt that..now you will be able to remember. We're in this together."

< Next her attention turned towards Helena who was MORE than receptive to the eye candy all around her. Slowly but surely, Kelly weaved her way in, grabbing Helena by the hand. Helena was a different beast than Diana. In her own timeline, Helena and her had a rather amicable relationship. While it was clear that Helena and Diana were always closer, during the times when the three of them were at odds, it was often Kelly and Helena bonding over how much of a tyrant Diana could be. It was Helena's turn. She leaned into Helena's ear as she lifted their hands up high. >

"You know..you and I used to have quite a bit of fun in my timeline. We were actually quite famous at parties like this. Here...take a look."

< The same spell that took hold of Diana began to work it's magick on Helena. The two made eye contact as Helena began to experience the same kind of memory awareness. >

<< FLASH! >>

Hellfire Mansion - 1980's

<< A fancy Hellfire Club party was well under way in The Hellfire Mansion. People were drinking, enjoying themselves and engaging in all kinds of unspeakable behavior. Helena and Kelly stood side by side, several feet away. They had known each other casually in passing for quite some time, but never really took to each other. >>

<< Meanwhile, a horrible insufferable woman was in front of them, talking to both of them ad naseum about her glamorous life, where she had just vacationed, how much money she had spent on her dress, with an attractive bit of eye candy on her arm. Both Kelly and Helena were clearly not into this woman. >>

<< In that moment, they locked eyes. Somehow, they both had the same idea. >>

Helena: "Oh that's all very interesting, Sarah...but dear. I hate to be the one to point this out...but you have the biggest booger hanging out of your nose right now. Normally, I would never say such a thing, but that thing has it's own zip code, and it's making me uncomfortable."

<< Kelly covered her mouth trying not to laugh as the woman screamed and began to run away towards the bathroom as Talisman winked, igniting a playful spell that cracked the woman's heel, and tore the strap of her dress, causing her to be fully exposed in front of EVERYONE. >>

Sarah: "Oh my GOD! What is HAPPENING?!"

<< Before long, both Helena and Kelly BURST out in laughter as the handsome man in front of them, Sarah's eye candy remained. Kelly looked at Helena. >>

"I hope he's as stupid as he is hot."

<< Helena laughed. >>

Helena: "They always are."

<< In unison, the two walked over to the man, wrapped their arms around him and let him escort him to the bar for a drink. >>

< There were hundreds of these interactions. Of Kelly and Helena conspiring for the most petty of things just to get a laugh out of the other one. They were the original "Banger Sisters" of The Hellfire Club, and it was during these kind of social events that their friendship had really flourished. While they often had VERY different tasks over the years, they always found a way to work together, simply because they entertained each other like no other. They had the same sense of humor and the same way of having fun. Kelly spun around, continuing to dance. >

"Nobody could stop us. So next time you're up for throwing a little shade...which let's be honest, is always, let a girl know. I miss that."

< Spinning around, soon it was the three of them at the CENTER of the dance floor as the men flanked around them, and soon some women who had joined in, those who were brave enough to stand next to the QUEENS. Kelly lifted her hands in the air as the three of them became LOST in the music and rhythm, FULLY enjoying everything that the BLACKOUT PARTY was. >

"DJ! Pump that UP!"

< The three of them dancing together was a STRONG statement to The Hellfire Club. Whereas Dominique was Black Queen, she represented a great divide between the courts. Tonight, the three queens of the court were dancing together, in unison, enjoying each other's company...and learning a bit more about themselves. It was clear, that despite any of their issues, that this roster was together, was powerful..and was NOT GOING ANYWHERE. >

"Anybody have any requests?!"

 

[Malice]

Hellfire Mansion- Lunar Ballroom- Stars on 54

Weaving between guests, Helena spotted both Kelly and Diana in full 70's gear dancing.

"Way to DATE us Kelly."

Speaking of the Queen's ages. Rolling her eyes, Helena's body immediately morphed into a new outfit [except red] and her blonde hair was now in an appropriate 70's updo. Feeling the effects of the cocaine, Helena finally smirked.

"Fine, fine. I'll have my personal fun later. Until then..."

Taking Diana's hand, she spun the woman and laughed.

"Lets dance!"

:: Diana held Helena's hand, offering a knowing smirk as they danced together.::

Those old fools :: Spencer and Marcus: made their FIRST mistake when they allowed US to meet.

:: referring to many moons ago, when young but hardly naive Diana had asserted herself in the Arklay Mansion, and was clearly MORE than a mere psychic hound. She'd begun that journey that she once lectured Haleigh about...allowing the pain, the sadness, the chaos...to feed her DEMAND for POWER, that POWER that allowed her to sew the seeds of DESTRUCTION for the men that thought they were going to use HER. And one of the FIRST allies she made in her quest to use that growing power was Helena Quartermaine.::

:: From Helena, Diana gained a more balanced sense of life. She didn't lose her laser focused AMBITION, but she learned how to have FUN and revel in SIN along the way. ::

:: Where dancing was concerned, Helena AND Karen had Diana beat, but being a telepath, Diana was easily able to pick up & instantly "train" herself in moves from basic to artful or choreographed, to downright sexy, ultimately adding to her arsenal in the art of SEDUCTION where men were concerned. And so, many a nights did they spend dancing the night away.::

:: She'd had enough of business and details for tonight, she deserved just as much as anyway else, to REVEL in this moment of glory, power without consequence. She'd dealt a painful blow to the Six, HUMILIATED Haleigh AND Ava, and crafted a new, POWERFUL White Court, with a White KING that would meet her in all areas of both pleasure AND business. This moment was HER'S...and who better to share it with than one of her LONGEST running, most trusted allies?::

:: Surrounded by beautiful, sexy people, The three queens sparkled, shimmied, danced and styled together in the center of the dance floor, a place that many, from Diana Ross to Madonna, considered to be the center of the universe, the place to find true escape and satisfaction.::


:: then there was Kelly...SHAW, who had an experience with Diana MUCH more similar to the one Diana and Helena had in her OWN native timeline. Diana had been HARD on Shaw since she discovered her hiding out on Sheena Island, and she wouldn't apologize for it, but it was becoming clear that Diana made the RIGHT choice in giving Shaw a chance.::

< Kelly danced her way closer towards Diana as they were in between two very attractive shirtless men, their sweaty, glitter covered bodies heaving up and down as Kelly and Diana sit side by side. >

"I hope you are enjoying yourself.."

< smiling. >

"But this isn't it..some ballsy, annoying, self righteous and downright bitchy blonde I know keeps telling me I have a stick up my ass and that I need to remove it. Sound familiar?"

A well timed diversion, Shaw. You HAVE been different, of late. It's an IMPROVEMENT.

"Consider the stick removed and note taken. But this whole production has a point. My skill and quick thinking might have kept me alive, but it's become clear to me...I've known YOU for over [whispering] thirty years and yet..[gesturing around] HERE? I'm a stranger. It's for you...for both of you. To know who I am...to share in the history I have with you."

< She turned to face Diana, smirking seductively as they began to dance, their hands up in the air, seductively swaying in and out to the beat of the disco music pumping in the ballroom. The scene was beginning to draw quite a crowd, which really, was the point of a night like The Blackout Party. >

"Happy Blackout Party, Diana."

< Kelly leaned in and KISSED Diana on the lips for a few moments as another component of her spell began to activate very quickly. Soon Diana's mind would begin to FLOOD with images that were incredibly realistic, accurate and downright shocking when comparing them to her real life. >

:: Diana couldn't read Kelly's mind, but her EMOTIONS and the psychic vibrations emminating from her indicated the woman was indeed in rare form, much more so than any other time since her discovery here in this timeline, and the moment she leaned in to kiss Diana full on the mouth, the White Queen's opal blue eyes widen for a moment!::

::FLASH!::

1978 - Studio 54 - New York City

<< A scene much like the one unfolding around them now was well underway in the scandalous and salacious Studio 54. All around people were expressing themselves, giving into their hedonistic desires. >>

<< A cut scene. We see a much younger Diana in a VIP booth of sorts, surrounded by beautiful people - some of them include Christopher Victory and Adam Chandler. Across the room, we see a young Kelly Shaw dancing in a circle of friends who had convinced her very begrudgingly to ditch studying for her finals and come out dancing with them. >>

<< Flashing lights and disco strobes dance across each of their faces. >>

<< Some time later in one of the many labrynth like halls in the club, a gentleman caller begins to antagonize Kelly, attempting to GROPE her and have his way with her right then and there. A watchful eye from around the corner surveys the scene from a moment. >>

Kelly: "I said get OFF of me you CREEP!"

<< ZARK! >>

<< Kelly dispatches one hell of a mystic bolt at the man, sending him BLASTING back into the wall, knocking him out cold. >>

Diana: "Impressive."

Kelly: "Oh my god! Did I kill him?!"

Diana: "With any luck."

<< Diana extends her hand to the woman. >>

Diana: "Diana."

Kelly: "Kelly...nice to meet you. And not to be mean, but if you say anything about what you just saw, I got another one of those blasts at the ready."

Diana: "It's always nice to meet somebody who has no idea who they're dealing with. Your secret is safe with me. Let me buy you a drink. There's some people I'd like you to meet."

:: As Kelly KISSED Diana on her metallic glossed lips, the witch shared/TRANSFERED HER memories of Diana from HER timeline! It was a TRUE "through the looking glass" Moment. What a revealing and telling moment she shared. It touched Diana on a visceral level because she saw THIS version of herself had clearly NOT been as traumatized as she HERSELF had been in mainstream.::

:: and for a woman, Kelly's kiss wasn't BAD either! Helena would have fun teasing Diana to no end, as if THEY hadn't had their "blurred" moments in the past! ::

< Kelly continued to share her memories with Diana. Decades of history began to flood Diana's mind. She saw a studious Kelly studying for exams and a glamorous younger version of herself throwing the books away and dragging Kelly out to a fashion show! She even saw herself WALKING in a fashion show as Kelly sat front row and center. She saw the early days of Kelly's introduction to MysTech, of her contributions. She saw the moment Kelly found out she was pregnant, the altercation with Duncan in Greece and Kelly's subsequent return to New York City and the confrontation that ensued on a rooftop. She saw Karen and the loss of her child. In a very short amount of time, Diana found herself having a WILD new awareness of the mysterious woman that had shown up on Sheena Island talking of bringing back the old days and making them better. She saw their history now, she felt their history. More than that, she could remember those times from her own counterpart version, experiencing a bit of dual awareness. As Kelly pulled her lips away from Diana she smiled, both of them looking at each other with a knowing glance. >

"I'm here for the long haul, Diana. Should you ever doubt that..now you will be able to remember. We're in this together."

:: Grasping Kelly's hair on the back of her head, Diana TUGS, and bends Kelly back a bit, now leaning over her in a most seductive way, with her other arm wrapped around Kelly's waist.::

Let's just HOPE, that the deeper we go, the more you'll know just how MUCH we're in this TOGETHER.

:: And with that, Diana leads with a KISS, and gives Kelly a taste of the same empathic "touch" she gave Heidi and Lord Ravena. A truly INTOXICATING experience. She DIPS Kelly low, and then brings her back up, and SPINS her away toward HELENA. ::

:: Kelly has a moment with Helena, and its clear this is her way of making peace and establishing a rapport with the White and Red Queens. Malice is satisfied.::

< Spinning around, soon it was the three of them at the CENTER of the dance floor as the men flanked around them, and soon some women who had joined in, those who were brave enough to stand next to the QUEENS. Kelly lifted her hands in the air as the three of them became LOST in the music and rhythm, FULLY enjoying everything that the BLACKOUT PARTY was. >

"DJ! Pump that UP!"

< The three of them dancing together was a STRONG statement to The Hellfire Club. Whereas Dominique was Black Queen, she represented a great divide between the courts. Tonight, the three queens of the court were dancing together, in unison, enjoying each other's company...and learning a bit more about themselves. It was clear, that despite any of their issues, that this roster was together, was powerful..and was NOT GOING ANYWHERE. >

"Anybody have any requests?!"

:: Diana shot a request to the DJ telepathically, and since the song would have the same tempo as the Donna Summer remix, he began to mix it in seemlessly.::

:: lights shifted and beamed down on each queen, as they moved into a triangular formation, and soon, Donna Summer's Bad Girls began to segue into "Stars on 54: If you could read my mind" a strong nod to the past, with a hint toward the future in its sound, and easy enough for all three queens to command with their dance::

:: High above on the balcony where he'd been coronated earlier, Lord Ravena stands on the balcony, watching this magickal spectacle unfold, noting Malice's much more revealing dress and her form, along with the black and red queens.::

 

[Domino]

Hellfire Club - Black Diamond Suites

:: Maxine was rather pissed off. As she guided Jessica down the stairs and took her to her chambers, she sat there for awhile, stroking the woman's hair and building her up the only way she knew how. The others didn't understand their relationship. They would call her Viper's handler or babysitter or any number of unimportant names. Only Jessica and Maxine knew what they had experienced in London. It was something that bonded them together forever. Maxine didn't care for many people in her life. Her own family was disposable. She chose her friends and family wisely and that was why not many people could say that they were close to her. One of those people had been Evelyn Pierce, the now deceased Black Queen of the European Hellfire Club. She had nurtured Maxine, let her be who she was and was a constant source of guidance and strength. There was not a day that went by that Maxine didn't miss Evelyn. It was something that Ravena and herself shared. She was a rare and unique woman. Even in her death, Evelyn continued to teach Maxine. Her death had given Maxine the strength to do what she had done. She had murdered the entire Supreme Council of the court, including the Lord Cardinal and had helped completely restructure her home turf. To those in Europe, she would always be a legend. Those in the states might question her, or might think her to be less than who she was, but she could deal with that. Maxine knew that everybody had an expiration date, herself included. When she encountered Jessica, she took pause. She was a brilliant woman, and really should have been at the helm of everything that Diana was trying to do. But her tragic history and her own mental illness, brought about by the many people who sought to use and abuse her, had prevented all of that. Maxine knew the pain of playing second fiddle to the less qualified and just as emotionally scarred around her. She would be a champion of Jessica until she got to where she needed to go. No matter how long that took. It was THIS loyalty that superceded everything around her, and it was what had caused her to enter into the deal with Diana that she had. Domino knew the stakes of the deal, she had analyzed the terms, but it still didn't stop her from being pissed off at what had transpired tonight. Diana took an opportunity to use Jessica to prove a point and it didn't sit right with her. She could deal with Haleigh as the White Princess, she could let all of them feel so super important if it was necessary, but she would not stand for her "sister" to be manipulated in such a way. She needed a break. A time out so to speak. ::

:: Taking her leave of Jessica once she ensured her safety, Maxine began to wander the halls of the Hellfire Mansion. Sipping from her flask, before long she found herself in Highdark Hall, one of the darkest areas of the mansion and by proxy her favorite. As she moved forward, trying to let go of her anger, she found herself at the front doors of the Black Diamond Suites VIP. This was perhaps the most private area of the mansion tonight reserved for only the most special of guests. Eventually members of the Inner Circle would end up here for the after party, but now, there was any number of important people engaging in any number of depraved and disgusting things. In short, Maxine felt at home. As she barrelled through the double doors in somewhat of a drunken stupor, a feat that was not easy for her to reach she noticed Sharon Kelly on the balcony of the lounge. With an amused smile she walked forward, before finding herself outside with Sharon. The cold wind began to breeze through the areas, wipping through each woman's hair. ::

"Well look who it is. Silver Swan tending to her wings."

:: Maxine walked forward as they both found themselves bent over, overlooking the bannister of the balcony, overlooking the crowd. From inside of her pocket, Maxine produced a joint and lighted it promptly with an old fashion, flip top lighter, taking a deep hit and exhaling. ::

"Don't worry, little bird. I'm not here to antagonize. I'm here for the same reason you are. I'm pissed off and need a breather."

:: She offered the joint to Sharon. ::

"Come on pretty bird. Fly high with me for a second."

:: taking another hit. ::

"I know a thing or two about people betraying you. My father...he wasn't the best man. I spent many a years trying to please him. Impress him even. Only to find out that the only way out was for me to cut his head off and roll it like a bowling ball down the great hall of the european hellfire club ballroom."

:: looking at Sharon. ::

"You act as if you are here merely gathering intel. To bring back to your little team. But that's not entirely true...is it Sharon? I can tell. I grew up in walls like these..I can sense who is "one of us" and who isn't. You're one of us...yet you still cling to the idea of being a masked hero. It's fascinating."

:: taking a puff of her joint. ::

"Know that I only say any of this to you because you are the only person I've met in recent memory that might be able to beat my ass. And don't' get cocky...I said MIGHT. You trip me out, Silver Swan. I guess I mean..how does one go from decorated senator...to botched science experiment...to masked hero...to sitting here at the hellfire club among so many people that one would think you would despise.."

"What are you doing here Sharon Kelly?"

 

[Fathom]

The Hellfire Club -- Black Court Wing

A little light waterboarding was always good for a thrill, and it was clear from her expression that Heidi was quite pleased to have been tasked with putting the Bishop in her place. Back at the European branch, Heidi had once been a Bishop herself. The Bishop was a lowly position, a messenger and a gopher, and it had been the only position open to Heidi when Camille reeled her in. If she'd known that she'd be at the bottom of the pecking order, she might have never joined, but Camille had always fed her ego and kept her close. Though Heidi had of course enjoyed her tenure as part of the Inner Circle, she'd always been envious of the other Court Members. The Knight was a position that was far more prestigious, as a strategic defender of the Queen, and an enforcer of the will of both the King and Queen. The Rook was never looked down on either, as a wildcard, often given the freedom to do as they pleased, so long as they furthered the interests of the court and carried out assassinations as needed. So Heidi reveled a little in having been elevated to her new position, and the prestige bestowed upon her by her new Queen. But this Chrissy girl.... she just wasn't quite picking up what Emiko and Heidi were putting down.

Max: Miss Nefaria!

"Hey there Guido, are you feeling thirsty TOO?"

She asked, her hand coming up, a swirling ball of water forming in her palm, glowing with the same blue as her fingertips, a fiendish smile on her lips.

Chrissy: I'm fine, Max.

She sounded like she'd swallowed sand, which gave Heidi great satisfaction. One would THINK that they had been crystal clear in their enforcement of the Queen's will.... but Chrissy sprang up and threw her arms around them-- IN A HUG?!?! Heidi pushed the girl off as quickly as she could, a grimace of disgust twisting her beautiful features.

Chrissy: It was just a little…BONDING exercise for the White Rook, Knight, and Bishop, that’s all. Next time, ladies, let’s just do shots instead.

And then the Bishop traipsed off, as if she hadn't just nearly died. Heidi looked over at Emiko as some staff members rushed over to collect the body at their feet and mop up the water all over the tile floor.

"Chrissy's not the brightest light in the harbor, is she?"

Emiko: I think Miss M expects a little bit more repentance from her, don't you agree?

"Indeed. But I nearly killed her and the anchor didn't sink."

She replied, as her and Emiko trailed after the Bishop. They made their way out of the Black Court Wing, until they reached the Atrium that each Court's quarters branched off of. Across the way, near the mouth of the White Wing, Chrissy had stopped to kiss the Princess's feet. Heidi couldn't hear what they were saying, but she found herself annoyed none the less. If the girl got into Scion's good graces, she'd think she was 'special'. That was SO not okay. Emiko worked her magic here, stripping Chrissy naked first, then weaving an illusion of zombified corpses, all of them the same person, Chrissy's father. Heidi watched with cruel contentment, and her and Emiko turned to leave the Atrium and head back to the ballroom.

Emiko: Now, what shall we do next?

"I'm famished. Let's see if the Chefs have sent out dinner yet.... and then we can find ourselves a few more victims."

 

[Silver Swan]

Hellfire Mansion- Highdark Hall

"Well look who it is. Silver Swan tending to her wings."

:: Maxine walked forward as they both found themselves bent over, overlooking the bannister of the balcony, overlooking the crowd. From inside of her pocket, Maxine produced a joint and lighted it promptly with an old fashion, flip top lighter, taking a deep hit and exhaling. ::

I don't want ANY company.

"Don't worry, little bird. I'm not here to antagonize. I'm here for the same reason you are. I'm pissed off and need a breather."

:: She offered the joint to Sharon. ::

No.

[ She looked the other way]

"Come on pretty bird. Fly high with me for a second."

:: taking another hit. ::

I doubt it would have the...intended effect on me. And since you don't have any plants/herbs from Themyscira, I'll pass.

:: Domino was so boorish to Sharon, but in this moment, she seemed...ALMOST remotely tolerable and it was easier to look at her...actually LOOK at her.::

"I know a thing or two about people betraying you. My father...he wasn't the best man. I spent many a years trying to please him. Impress him even. Only to find out that the only way out was for me to cut his head off and roll it like a bowling ball down the great hall of the european hellfire club ballroom."

:: looking at Sharon. ::

Don't you try to commiserate with me, Maxine. You're a horrible, completely unrestrained woman who delights in the suffering of others. You have no respect, AT ALL, for life. You lack even the BASIC qualities of a human being- empathy, compassion for the innocent and the weak, who are the most in need of protection from people like YOU.

"You act as if you are here merely gathering intel. To bring back to your little team. But that's not entirely true...is it Sharon? I can tell. I grew up in walls like these..I can sense who is "one of us" and who isn't. You're one of us...yet you still cling to the idea of being a masked hero. It's fascinating."

:: taking a puff of her joint. ::

How DARE you...

[ As glares at Maxine, Sharon's hand balls into a fist...]

[ 3....2.....]

"Know that I only say any of this to you because you are the only person I've met in recent memory that might be able to beat my ass. And don't' get cocky...I said MIGHT. You trip me out, Silver Swan. I guess I mean..how does one go from decorated senator...to botched science experiment...to masked hero...to sitting here at the hellfire club among so many people that one would think you would despise.."

"What are you doing here Sharon Kelly?"

[....1....]

[POW!!!!]

[Silver Swan punches Maxine in the face with thunderous FURY and knocks her through the french doors, through the suite, BACK into the dark Highdark Hall itself.]

ENOUGH!

[ Sharon commands with MORE than a fraction of her sonic power.]

You DON'T know who you're dealing with...but you'll FIND OUT!

[ She flies into view]

I'll do MORE than beat your ass, you walking petrie dish. I'll DROP THIS ENTIRE MANSION ON YOUR MISBEGOTTEN HEAD! I'LL TAKE YOU APART, Maxine. And if you doubt it for ONE MOMENT, ASK Malice, ask BLACK WIDOW just what I CAN DO. There's a REASON why they take a HANDS OFF APPROACH with me.

YOU will never know what it is to be a WOMAN, to live a REAL, RESPECTABLE life. To be a WIFE, a MOTHER, only to have your husband and child RIPPED from you in one night, and be powerless to save them OR yourself. YOU'LL never know the pain of being HUMAN because you're nothing but a cold, souless, sociopathic KILLING MACHINE, all you LIVE for is violence and destruction. I have a higher purpose and I will NEVER stop reaching for it.

:: She hovers in the air high above::

After my son, I dedicated MY LIFE, and LOST IT helping mutants. What did YOU EVER do besides HURT AND KILL fellow mutants?

When I died the night I was re-elected, my DEATH facilitated the FALL of mystech. YOU'RE nothing more than a cheap, "direct-to-video" sequel of a story that PRE-DATES you. You're a BAD ACTOR trying to insert herself into a tragedy that doesn't DESERVE glory.

Yes, I WAS resurrected against my will, and mutated, but my FRIENDS came for me. They liberated me, and though the road after that was HARD for me, and I stumbled A LOT along the way, I REGAINED my humanity. I've come to terms with my new reality, and I've learned far more with the Six and the Amazons than I could have imagined, I NOW use my POWER to protect the weak. But DON'T misunderstand me, DOMINO, I understand VERY WELL that protecting the weak sometimes means MEETING the MONSTER where he...OR SHE is...and dealing with them accordingly.

Protecting the weak CERTAINLY encompasses PUNISHING THE GUILTY.

:: Sharon may not have realized it just now, but she was ECHOING the sentiments of BISHOP::

And as for why I'm HERE? That's no secret. MALICE stole my husband and my son from me. I was a "loose end" she didn't anticipate. I've been a thorn in her side for a while now, and when Master Mold killed me, Malice's Mystech empire DIED along with me. My being here is as much a provocation to HER as it is to people like YOU.

I AM gathering intel. But yes, there IS a personal piece of it. I inherited this membership from my husband. It's MINE to do with as I will. So I'm ALSO reminding you bastards that I'm here....I'm BACK...and there's NOTHING you can do about it.

Now...TRY ME.

:: Sharon lands and squares up::

I'm SICK of your mouth, Maxine, I'm sick of your insolence, and your arrogance. I'm gonna wipe the floor with your smug rotten face, and then I'll PULL YOUR FACE OFF.

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Mansion – White Wing



Haleigh Davidoff – the White Princess – turned around.

Haleigh: “Yeah, thanks, I guess. Giuletta Christina Nefaria. What a mouthful of a name. You still go by what your father called you.... Chrissy?”

Gia still stood in place, wiping water from her face, groaning when the black marks of her mascara appeared on her hands. Now she had to go change because it just wouldn’t do to greet Diana looking like a drowned rat. That’s all she needed, yet another strike against her.

“Gia, actually.”

She wasn't surprised that Scion knew who she was. She watched coolly as Haleigh came forward. Gia knew about Haleigh, and how she was – used to be – a member of the Six. She didn’t know what game the chick was playing, or WHY Diana had chosen her as the White Princess, but Gia didn’t have time to dwell on it. She had to go change.

Haleigh: "Speaking of your father, sorry he went to prison. Well.... sorry/not sorry. I hope you don't hold it against me. I wouldn't have given the feds what they needed to take him down if he hadn't tried to blackmail me after SHIELD made me the poster girl for the Avengers."

Gia’s mouth dropped open. THIS was the one who sent her father to prison? Gia laughed, because it was a moment where one could either laugh or cry, and she chose laughter. God forbid she cry. So there she stood, hands on her hips, laughing hysterically. She stamped her foot, and walked in a complete circle, trying to contain herself.

“REALLY?! Is this yet ANOTHER ‘object lesson’ that Diana has for me, because I have to say, I am NOT amused.”

She walked in another complete circle, and then another, and then another. She tore her eyes from the ground and looked at Haleigh.

“I’m not insane, I’m just walking out my anger so I don’t beat you to a bloodly pulp. I learned THAT lesson from the two bitches who think they are tough shit.”

Haleigh didn’t seem to care. She walked up and handed her a handkerchief.

Haleigh: “Have you been spending time with the British Jellfyfish?”

In spite of the DEEP rage that was welling inside of Gia, she smiled at Haleigh’s comment.

“Oh, you’re a fan of hers---“

Gia’s voice broke off as she suddenly stood stockstill. Her eyes were forward, yet they weren’t seein g Haleigh or even the corridor. Gia had ASTUTE situational awareness and she had sensed somebody behind them.

“Excuse me, but I think my lessons are not yet finished.”

Sure enough, her clothing disappeared, leaving her stark naked – aside from her shoes.

Great. Just fucking great.

*mutters*: ”How juvenile.”

She was then taken aback when she spotted her father’s dead, rotting, corpse in front of her. She turned around and there was another one. She turned again and there was yet another one. Everywhere she turned there was one waiting for her. Now she understood why she was fucking naked. The posses of dead daddies were advancing towards her, gnashing their teeth. Still, she DID catch a glimpse of two familiar bitches walking away from the scene. It seemed like they weren’t impressed by her.

I bow to NOBODY other than the White Queen, so game on bitches!

She immediately tucked herself into a ball and ‘tripped’ one of them onto the floor before grasping its head between her legs in a chokehold and squeezed. HARD. Hearing a satisfying *pop*, she wrenched the head from the torso and imbued it with kinetic energy, before hurling it into the crowd of zombies who, by now, were on top of her. Acting just like a BULLET, the head went through a line of zombies, knocking them down. Gasping for breath, Gia got up ready for the next round. She was MORE than aware that she was naked but she just didn’t have time to feel humiliation in front of Scion. She had to dispatch some zombies.

“NEXT!”

With this group, she used her power of kinetic energy to HALT the zombies in their tracks. She threw out her hands and they STOPPED. Gia took a few seconds to remove her shoes and then bounced on her feet. She was increasing her own kinetic energy and made a run for it, zooming straight into the zombies and using the force of her fists to send them FLYING down the hall where they lay in a heap.

“Cleanup in aisle 4.”

Gia sighed and walked back to where Scion stood. If Fathom and Emiko wanted her to feel humiliated, they won, but Gia REFUSED to show it. She was saving THAT for the White Queen herself. She would only show weakness in front of Diana – and nobody else.

“Okay, hopefully that’s all for now. Now, if you’d like, you can come with me to my room. It seems that my dress had been misplaced by a ROOKISH imp.”

She strode past Haleigh like there was nothing wrong. Gia was just DONE. She was LIVID.

“I need a shower as well.”

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- White Wing

First the mafia princess laughed, then she stomped her foot and turned around once.

Masque: REALLY?! Is this yet ANOTHER ‘object lesson’ that Diana has for me, because I have to say, I am NOT amused.

"Mmm, no, that was a lesson for your father. He should have known better than to try to extort ME, of all people. Honestly, it wasn't personal. Actions have consequences."

Gia was pacing in circles, and wasn't taking the new of Haleigh's involvement in her father's downfall very well, but Haleigh just shrugged because she really didn't care.

Masque: I’m not insane, I’m just walking out my anger so I don’t beat you to a bloody pulp. I learned THAT lesson from the two bitches who think they are tough shit.

Haleigh chuckled at the suggestion that Gia would beat her bloody. The Italian had moxie, even if she didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. Haleigh decided it would be to easy to break the Bishop in half, so she changed the subject instead.

"Gia, you realize you're wearing the wrong color dress, right? You're a member of the WHITE Court. I wouldn't recommend pissing my mother off by flouting the dress code at such a prominent event."

Haleigh suggested, and she was not at ALL prepared for what happened next. Suddenly, Gia was stark naked. A rare look of surprise dawned on Haleigh's face. She had absolutely no familiarity with the concept of modesty herself, but as far as being propositioned, well, she'd never come across a girl so BOLD. Then the girl started..... fighting? It definitely looked like she was applying a triangle chokehold to somebody, but there was nobody there. Haleigh took a couple of steps back, unable to look away, not really sure of exactly how to explain the White Bishop's behavior. Gia made a motion like she was throwing a football, then got up and started streaking down the Portrait Hall.

The FUCK??

Did everybody here always have a bed reserved for them in the psychiatric ward, or was it just the Blackout taking effect? This chick was definitely more than a little 'Girl, Interrupted'. Haleigh's mouth was hanging open by the time Gia finished her exhibitionist routine and strolled back up like it was just another night.

Gia: Okay, hopefully that’s all for now. Now, if you’d like, you can come with me to my room.

"Ah..... look, you're very attractive, so don't take this too personally, but you're not my type. I usually require different equipment, if you know what I mean. A threesome's not out of the question, but I'm not in the mood tonight, because I got my freak on before the party."

Gia: It seems that my dress had been misplaced by a ROOKISH imp.

"Don't even TRY to unring that bell, sweetheart. We're cool as long as you don't make it weird. You don't have to be embarrassed, I won't tell anybody you came on so strong. Let's get you a proper gown though, before my mother DOES decide you need an object lesson."

Gia: I need a shower as well.

"I advise a cold one."

 

[Enchantrah]

Between Kelly's spell and the cocaine, Helena was dancing on such a high she was lost in the music. It had been a minute since she had heard these songs and danced in an atmosphere exact to that of Studio 54. Spinning around and moving perfectly to the beats of the music, half naked men began to surround them and dance as well.

"Now you're just spoiling me!"

Pulling one of the men to her, she laughed as he dipped her and began to dance with her. The man spun Helena around so her back was to his, and they continued to move in perfect harmony together as the music continued to pulse throughout the ballroom. It was in that moment that she saw Kelly approaching Diana, getting rather touchy feely with her. Helena's brows rose as she continued to watch until her mouth parted in shock, seeing Kelly plant one on Diana. She then straight LAUGHED.

"Holy shit I took some bad coke! [to the dancer] Are you seeing this too?!"

Diana and Helena had dabbled in a little lesbian action in their day, but to see Kelly kiss Diana and Diana not psi blast her to Timbuktu was the more shocking part. But the even funnier part was, Diana had enjoyed it! Kissing Kelly back! Oh yeah, that shit Fairchild had around his neck was some British backyard trailer park powder.

"Ohhhh no you don't!"

Kelly had turned her sights on Helena now. Gesturing to the hot naked men around her.

"I'm all about the beef tonight, not the fish!"

Helena choked out between laughed, but Kelly didn't relent and took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. In that moment, flashes of memories from Kelly's past flooded Helena's mind. Their escapades as young adults, the fun they used to have, the trouble they used to get in. In mere seconds Helena saw what could have been years worth of memories.

Kelly: "Nobody could stop us. So next time you're up for throwing a little shade...which let's be honest, is always, let a girl know. I miss that."

So the real Kelly finally decided to make an appearance. It was far better than the robotic stick in the mud version she had been dealing with the for the better part of a year. Running her finger down Kelly's cheek, Helena smirked.

"Keep this up, and we'll talk."

She said approvingly. The music then switched over to a song she hadn't heard in ages and Helena grinned, taking Kelly by the hand and spinning her into two beefy hot men. Helena spun herself around, draping her arms around the man she had been dancing with and continue to move with the music, enjoying herself thoroughly with her fellow Queens.

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Mansion – White Wing



Haleigh was acting weird, and she was looking at her as if she had three heads. An inkling of suspicion crawled through Gia.

“Uh…you DID see me get attacked by a bunch of zombies that looked like my father, right?”

Dammit!!

“Like, I don’t normally strip naked and run through the halls.”

Gia looks Scion up and down.

“You’re not my type either.”

And, because it was already weird, standing there in her birthday suit talking to Haleigh Davidoff of all people, Gia nodded and walked towards her suite. She knew that she had a few clothing items in the specially built walk-in closet that her father had installed for her the nights Gia just crashed here at Hellfire. As she moved to open the door, she turned back to Haleigh.

“If you want to make yourself at home, the Common Area has some nice couches as well as a bar with some munchies. I’ll be out in a bit.”

Opening the door, she let herself in, crossing through the living room to get to her bedroom. Making her way through the room, she didn’t notice a black widow spider skittering across the bed. She entered the bathroom and shut the door. Stepping into the huge walk-in shower, she turned it on and had a steamy hot shower, wiping off the remnants of the zombies. As she shampooed her hair, Haleigh’s words came back to her: "Gia, you realize you're wearing the wrong color dress, right? You're a member of the WHITE Court. I wouldn't recommend pissing my mother off by flouting the dress code at such a prominent event."

“MOTHER?!”

Holy shit. So Haleigh Davidoff was the daughter of Diana. Wow. Gia couldn’t imagine a human BABY being inside Malice for nine months.

WOW.

After a bit of cleansing and drying, she stepped out of the bathroom and entered the bedroom. Again, she did not notice the black widow spider now resting in the middle of one of the pillows on the bed. She headed for her closet and pulled a beautiful white dress from its place and put it on. She went back to the bathroom and started to primp.

After what seemed like forever, Gia was ready – again. She left her suite, making a mental note to completely redo the suite to HER liking, and started down the hall to the White Common Area. Entering the room, she sighed.

“MUCH better!”

She headed for the bar and got a wine glass and poured herself a glass of white wine. She regarded Haleigh with a curious look.

“So…Diana is your mother. That must be wild.”

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- White Wing

Gia: Uh…you DID see me get attacked by a bunch of zombies that looked like my father, right?

"No.... I only saw you and your best Helena Bonham Carter impression."

Gia: Like, I don’t normally strip naked and run through the halls.

"I'll let you blame it on the Blackout party, if you want."

Haleigh replied conspiratorially, as they began to make their way around the corner to the first suite, which Haleigh already knew to belong to the Bishop, but she tactfully allowed Gia to 'lead' the way. Haleigh didn't miss the fact that Gia's gaze travelled up and down her body like she was trying to imagine Haleigh just as disrobed as she was.

Gia: You’re not my type either.

"Yeah... okay. If you want to act like THAT is true, you'll need to stop eye fucking me first."

She advised, giving the girl a wink. Gia 'let' Haleigh into her chambers, and pointed out the common area as a place she could hang out while Gia went to take a shower. Haleigh plopped down on a sofa, and started tapping into the camera feeds, using this downtime to check and see who was where, doing what [or whom]. Sharon was taking out all her frustrations on Maxine, Heidi and Emiko were terrorizing the pawns, Helena was dancing with some pretty sexy chippendales, her mother was..... KISSING?!?!? CAMERON'S mother?!?!?

That's traumatizing. I'll never be able to unsee that.

Gia came back out, wearing a dress again. Finally. She'd taken long enough to 'shower'. She even admitted to feeling 'much better', which provoked a chuckle from Haleigh, who shook her head gently. Haleigh looked over the new gown, and gave the Bishop an approving nod as Gia went to pour herself a drink.

"Yes, now you look the part."

Gia: So…Diana is your mother. That must be wild.

"You have NO idea."

Haleigh deadpanned, as she rose to check out the snacks Gia had mentioned. She picked through the fruit for strawberries, and dipped one in a chocolate dip. She continued to peruse the surveillance system, looking for her sister, or maybe the Black Knight, or if she could get a glimpse, a red court member or two. The person she REALLY wanted to track down and 'bump' into, though, was the man of party; the White King. Where had HE gotten off to? Haleigh kept scanning the video feeds in her 'picture-in-picture' display, even as she turned to look at Gia with mild curiosity.

"I hope you've got a REALLY good reason for skipping the opening ceremony. Mommy Dearest is in a particularly DISCIPLINARY mood tonight."

 

[Malice]

Hellfire Club- Lunar Ballroom

"Ohhhh no you don't!"

Kelly had turned her sights on Helena now. Gesturing to the hot naked men around her.

"I'm all about the beef tonight, not the fish!"

Helena choked out between laughed, but Kelly didn't relent and took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. In that moment, flashes of memories from Kelly's past flooded Helena's mind. Their escapades as young adults, the fun they used to have, the trouble they used to get in. In mere seconds Helena saw what could have been years worth of memories.

Oh look at Helena, playing HARD TO GET for a change. What's the matter dear, feeling shy?

:iana caught sight of Lord Ravena watching from the balcony above, and her eyes met his. She nodded, smirking and beckoning him down with both hands. He smirked back, and soon withdrew from view, a sign he was on his way down.::

:: Kelly had her moment with Helena, it was similar to Diana's, and the purpose was to build a bridge, which Kelly had succeeded.::

Alright...

:: She telepathically shot ANOTHER song to the DJ...and soon...::

:: This hot little number was playing, as @Lord Ravena slowly weaved his way through the throng of beautiful, sparkling, writhing bodies to reach the center where the queens were.::

What kept you?

:: Diana said , as she removed his jacket AND ripped open his shirt by a few buttons in one smooth move::

Now, let's see if you can cut a rug...in an UPRIGHT position for a change...

:: This song was as much for Diana as it was for HELENA. The beat, the unabashed theme and lyrics, and how fitting that it came from one of their hottest albums called "Having a Party!" The song was sexy but cheeky at the same time, considering that NONE of the queens was known for being "NEEDY" where men were concerned, but tonight of all nights, it was time to let loose.::

:: Ravena had his hands on Diana's hips, sliding them down to her shapely ass. and PULLING her close. Diana drapped her arms over Ravena's shoulders as they begin to dance and grind; Helena handled her TRIO of men like a pro. And now BENJAMIN had a chance to show Kelly if he was the MAN he played at being.::

:: The rest of the dancers followed suit around them, and other members of the inner circle sauntered into the Lunar Ballroom. Some took to the floor, some went to the bar, ALL were transformed by the spell to fit the scene.::

:: This was DEFINITELY shaping up to be a memorable Blackout party::

 

[Domino]

Hellfire Mansion - Highdark Hall

:: Maxine flew through air crashing through the double doors of the suit and hit the wall in Highdark Hall with a thud, leaving an imprint as she slid down in a huddle. She was on her feet quickly, cracking her neck back and forth and swishing her jaw back and forth, before a smile appeared on her face. ::

Silver Swan: "You don't know who you're dealing with...BUT YOU'LL FIND OUT!!"

"Oh I think I know what I'm about to get into.."

:: Sharon began a long monologue of everything she had endured, while admonishing Maxine for everything that SHE was. It was ironic, watching her hover over the ground, pissed that Maxine was making assumptions about her while doing the very same thing. Maxine didn't care about the story. She didn't care about what Sharon had truly endured. she only wanted to piss her off to see what she could do, and Sharon was responding as anticipated. ::

:: As Sharon went on and on about finding her humanity and becoming the Patron Saint of Mutants, protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty, Maxine eyed her up and down, thinking of any number of things she'd like to do to her right now. She was hot when she was angry. ::

Sharon: "I'm SICK of your mouth, Maxine, I'm sick of your insolence, and your arrogance. I'm gonna wipe the floor with your smug rotten face, and then I'll PULL YOUR FACE OFF."

"Well...you're certainly full of piss, aren't you? Are you done?"

:: Maxine moved into a battle stance. ::

"Thank heavens, I thought that would never end."

[smirking]

"Now does that dress have a zipper or am I gonna have to rip it off?"

:: She moved with great speed as she tackled Silver Swan, and the two collided with great strength as they crashed through a wall and back into the suite. In an instant, Maxine kneed Sharon, causing the mutate to hunch over Domino's knee, as her free hand delivered a proper SMACK to Sharon's ass. ::

"That's for your long winded monologue. I knew if I poked and prodded you'd come out to play."

:: She grabbed Sharon by the hair and tossed her into a table as she rose to her feet. ::

"Look, I'm not interested in who you were. I'm not interested in what goes on in your life. You could liberate an oppressed nation, feed the hungry, save the poor. None of that interests me. What DOES interest me...is that when you punch it stings. Hurts even..."

:: She began to walk closer and closer as Sharon was about to no doubt land her next assault. Maxine was begging for it in all honesty. ::

"And I'm starting to think a very naughty part of you likes the fact that you can toss me around like a rag doll and can TAKE IT."

:: laughing ::

"In fact...I think it turns you on. I know it sure as hell scratches MY itch."

:: Maxine moved once again into battle mode. ::

"So, do with me what you will, Silver Swan. I just have one question...Your place or mine?"

:: Domino charged forth. ::

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Mansion – White Bishop’s Chambers



Haleigh: “You have NO idea.”

Gia took a long sip of her wine, closing her eyes. Ahhhh. That hit the spot. She set down the glass and began to grab all sorts of things from the cupboard and the mini fridge: crackers, various cheeses, grapes. She arranged them all on a plate and brought it and her wine over to a chair adjacent to the sofa and sat down in it, putting the plate of food and her wine on the table in front of her.

Haleigh: "I hope you've got a REALLY good reason for skipping the opening ceremony. Mommy Dearest is in a particularly DISCIPLINARY mood tonight."

Gia cocked an eyebrow and looked at Haleigh.

*sarcastically*: “Gee. You don’t say!”

She leaned forward and grabbed a cracker and a bit of cheese.

“If you must know, and Diana probably won’t care, I was held up with federal agents Nicholas Briggs and George Henderson. They dragged me back into their offices for yet another go-round about my father’s businesses and what-have-you. Here’s the thing about federal agents: they don’t care about parties.”

She popped the cheese and cracker in her mouth and frowned.

“No, I’ve already had a bit of her ‘discipline’ when she sicced Tweedledee and Tweedleduh onto me. She wants to see me. That’s why I’m in the White Wing instead of being downstairs.”

Gia rolled her eyes. Surprise, surprise. Diana didn’t like to be kept waiting, but the hell if everyone else had to. Not that she cared too much. She actually liked Diana. She admired her as well.

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- White Wing

In Highdark Hall, Maxine was giving Sharon her best foreplay. Haleigh started recording THAT action, because she'd want to review it later, when she could give it her undivided attention. Meanwhile, in the room Haleigh was actually standing in, Gia was explaining her tardiness.

"Federal Agents Nicholas Briggs and George Henderson..."

Haleigh repeated, accessing their personnel files. She made some notes for later, and brought her sweet treat over to the sitting area and sank into the sofa again.

"Don't worry, they won't be bothering you anymore."

Gia: I’ve already had a bit of her ‘discipline’ when she sicced Tweedledee and Tweedleduh onto me. She wants to see me. That’s why I’m in the White Wing instead of being downstairs.

"If you don't mind some unsolicited advice, I've got a few suggestions for you. First of all, the White Queen is NOT to be trifled with. If you don't show her the respect she deserves, you'll be left with an IQ close to room temperature."

She moved the Silver Swan/Domino brawl to the back burner, and checked back in to see if Diana was on her way up here yet. No, she was still down on the dance floor, now getting VERY friendly with the White King. Haleigh found it very interesting that whenever her thoughts drifted to Lord Ravena, her mother made sure to mark her 'territory'. Haleigh watched them for several moments.

My my..... the King SURE knows how dance. That's always a good indicator of sexual prowess.....

"Looks like the Queen is still a bit busy, you may be waiting up here a while. Now, as far as the other court members go..... you'll have to divide and conquer. Pick your battles wisely, because each time you face off, the scoreboard is updated."

 

[Mystique]

She was there. Yet she wasn't.

Always watching without being seen.

The Lunar Ballroom had turned into a 70's disco. The people dressed the part. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Typical.

Moving through the dancing crowd still dressed in her formal attire, she followed the train of half naked men that lead to the Queens. Finally, she smirked. Moving intimately close to one of the male dancers, Mystique ran her hand down his torso, her face inches from his. He got the point. She would see him later. Slipping a key card to him, she gave him a wink before continuing on.

Finally she spotted Helena a few feet away. Approaching her, Mystique leaned in to the Queen's ear.

"Ava Cassadine would like to speak with you. She's waiting in the Red Lounge."

Helena began to laugh.

Helena: "This should be good."

The Red Queen excused herself from the other Queens and began to follow Mystique to the Red Lounge. Opening the door for her, Helena entered.

Helena: “Thank you, Mystique. I certainly have this handled.”

Giving Ava one last look, Mystique nodded before exiting the Red Lounge. An interesting development she would monitor.

But for now, she disappeared. Her work done, for the moment.

 

[Enchantrah]

She was having a grand ol' time, bumping and grinding with all the shirtless men around her. Diana and Kelly too, but moreso the men. She felt a delicate hand on her shoulder that was most certainly not one of the beefy male dancers she was enjoying herself with. Turning around, she saw her Red Bishop, Mystique who immediately leaned in toward her ear.

Mystique: Ava Cassadine would like to speak with you. She's waiting in the Red Lounge."

Laughing, Ava Cassadine....oh how the tables have turned!

"This should be good!"

Turning to Diana and Kelly, she gave them a little wave indicating she was leaving for the time being. With that, Helena followed Mystique up to the Red Lounge where Ava was awaiting her arrival. Spotting the goddess sitting on a blood red chaise with drink in hand, Helena’s eyes sparkled with malicious glee.

“Miss Cassadine…..to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Helena purred with a grin that of a cheshire cat. She knew EXACTLY why Ava was here. Turning to her bishop, Helena nodded to her.

“Thank you, Mystique. I certainly have this handled.”

Mystique nodded and left the Red Lounge, closing the door behind her. Helena sauntered forward as Ava stood up.

Ava: “Thank you for meeting with me.”

“And pass up the opportunity to hear why you so eagerly wanted to speak with me? I’d be a fool! SO, let me guess? You’re here because of your sister?”

Helena faux gasped, placing her hand on her mouth.

“Ohhh, that’s right….she’s not your real sister is she?….So sorry, must of slipped my mind!”

Helena chuckled a low throaty laugh, walking past Ava and to the bar.

Ava: “I am here because of Haleigh, I’m not denying that. But I’m also here because I’ve pretended too long to be someone I’m not. I don’t belong with The Six. I’m not a ‘good guy’—I never have been.”

“Is that right?”

Helena poured herself a glass of champagne, sipping the bubbly liquid as she turned around to face Ava.

“And this revelation just so happen to suddenly come about right as Haleigh joined the Inner Circle? What a coincidence!”

Ava: “I stayed in The Six because of Haleigh. Now there’s no reason to go back.”

“So now you’re here? To what? Join the Red Court? I thought Red wasn’t your color?”

She sneered, remembering an encounter years ago with Ava. Helena looked the woman up and down, dissecting her with her eyes. Did she believe for a second that Ava was here because she WANTED to join the Inner Circle? No. Did she care? No. All Helena cared about was what would benefit HER and make her court stronger. Persephone was powerful and lived a long life, which meant she was resilient and resourceful. Walking forward, Helena tilted her head to the side, continuing to examine Ava.

“I’m guessing Diana didn’t like your little cloaks and daggers arrival which is why you’re here. No more room in the White Court so you go with your second option?”

Ava: “Diana and I are like oil and water—we don’t go well together. And I don’t know Kelly, nor do I find her particularly appealing. But you, I could see myself working with. From what I’ve gathered, you fly under the radar. You’re court is the eyes and ears of the Inner Circle and this club. You know how to manipulate, gather, and use information to get what you want. I appreciate that. But you need a stronghold, and I can be that.”

Helena’s eyes narrowed, listening to Ava ‘sell’ herself. She was either a very good liar or actually speaking the truth. Regardless it was intriguing, plus Helena enjoyed watching her squirm. Stepping right up to Ava’s face, Helena peered at the woman directly in the eyes.

“Can you now?”

Running her finger along Ava’s jawline, Helena’s eyes stayed locked onto the goddesses.

“You certainly do think highly of yourself.”

Finally, Helena began to move, slowly circling Ava like a shark in water. Uncomfortably close.

“I have to admit, I’ve always found you intriguing. You’ve lived a long life of power without consequence, then suddenly….poof….it was all gone. There’s a darkness inside you that is just itching to get out….one that’s been too long kept at bay. If what you say is true, then the Inner Circle would certainly feed your desire for blood.”

Helena was now behind Ava, her lips behind the brunette’s ear.

[in a whisper] “But if you’re lying….”

Ava: [firmly] “I’m not.”

Helena grinned, continuing to move around Ava—her fingers passing through the loose strands of chocolate hair that framed the girls face. Finally she was standing in front of her once again.

“Diana may think little of you, but she also can’t see beyond her hatred and anger that you hold sway over her precious little Scion. That is her greatest flaw.….not seeing the potential and grabbing it by the balls despite her distain. I, on the other hand, see what your potential is to the Inner Circle. You could be a very good asset to me and my court….But let me make one thing perfectly clear….”

Helena’s delicate fingers soon latched onto Ava’s throat in a vice grip.

“If I allow you to join, you answer to ME. You BELONG to ME. There will be no more Six. There will be no more family outside of this club. There will only be your loyalty to the Inner Circle, the Red Court, and most importantly, TO ME. And if you EVER disobey me…”

Helena’s grip tightened.

“…or commit an act of subterfuge, I will make sure to give Diana the pleasure of forcing little Scion to bury you into the ground. I may not flex my muscles like Diana often, but I WILL when I’m FUCKED with. Do you understand?”

Helena’s face was inches from Ava’s, her eyes locked onto the goddesses as she watched her struggle to submit. It made the omnimorph smile….ahh, it was always an amazing feeling seeing a BITCH go belly up. But in Ava’s case, it showed her strength in character and Helena appreciated that. She didn’t want a spineless lacky on her court. She wanted STRENGTH and TENASITY. These were the very reasons she was even considering letting Persephone in.

Ava: “Yes.”

“Gooooooood.”

Helena let go of Ava’s throat, running her hand down the goddess’ face now as if she were petting her. Although Helena would allow Ava onto the Red Court, she was no fool. Ava would have to prove herself loyal, and if she couldn’t? She would kill her.

“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?”

Doing an about face, Helena returned to the bar and grabbed another flute of champagne before walking back to Ava. She then handed her new addition the glass of champagne.

“Welcome to the Red Court…my Rook.”

Clinking her glass against Ava’s,

“And one more thing. You don’t answer to Diana or Kelly. If they have a problem with you, they’ll take it up with me. One thing you’ll learn soon enough….you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”

Lifting her flute in the air.

“Cheers.”

Clinking her glass with Ava’s, Helena smiled wickedly as she took a sip of the champagne.

“Now….what to do about that god awful black dress….”

 

[Persephone]

Ava had taken some time in her Hellfire suite to freshen up after her brawl with Jessica Marcus. She still couldn’t believe that brat was still alive. And after what she was about to do, it looked like she would have to deal with Jessica more often than not. Finally, Ava did a once over in the mirror, smoothing the material of her dress down in preparation. It was now or never.

After finding a member of the Red Court—which was a task considering it was the heat of the party—the woman brought her to the Red Lounge. It was beautiful decorated, dark, yet welcoming. The redhead cleared out the lounge quickly and told Ava to wait. Inhaling a deep breath, this was definitely a moment of eating crow. She needed a stiff drink, that was for sure. Grabbing a bottle of whatever looked the strongest, Ava poured herself a glass then headed over to the chaise and took a seat. It wasn’t long before the redhead had returned with Helena.

Helena: “Miss Cassadine…..to what do I owe the pleasure? Thank you, Mystique. I certainly have this handled.”

Here we go. Standing up, Ava placed her drink on the end table next to the chaise.

“Thank you for meeting with me.”

And in true Helena fashion, she went straight at Ava with catty quips, and then cruel reminders of her relationship with Haleigh. Keeping her face even and emotionless, she could feel the heat rising her body as she watched Helena saunter around confidently. The bitch knew why she was here, she was just toying with Ava and enjoying every minute of it.

“I am here because of Haleigh, I’m not denying that. But I’m also here because I’ve pretended too long to be someone I’m not. I don’t belong with The Six. I’m not a ‘good guy’—I never have been.”

Helena: “Is that right? And this revelation just so happen to suddenly come about right as Haleigh joined the Inner Circle? What a coincidence!”

“I stayed in The Six because of Haleigh. Now there’s no reason to go back.”

Helena: “So now you’re here? To what? Join the Red Court? I thought Red wasn’t your color?”

Rolling her eyes, Ava remembered their prior exchange that Helena was referring to. Obviously it was enough to strike a cord with the Red Queen if she was throwing it in Ava’s face. She wanted to smile with satisfaction, but she didn’t. She remained cool and stoic, knowing if she lashed out or blew up she would ruin any chances at joining the Red Court, and in turn, staying with Haleigh in the Inner Circle.

Helena: “I’m guessing Diana didn’t like your little cloaks and daggers arrival which is why you’re here. No more room in the White Court so you go with your second option?”

Pretty much. Ava thought to herself. But in reality, she wasn’t a fit for the White Court. She was too opinionated and headstrong to follow someone like Diana. Haleigh was too, but Haleigh had the advantage of being Diana’s daughter. And Ava didn’t want to join the likes of Kelly Shaw….she was already betraying Alison and Cameron by joining the Inner Circle, it would be a cold day in hell before she joined the Black Court under their MOTHER. But Helena was a different beast. She was a little more laid back, and Ava needed laid back. She needed someone who wouldn’t micromanage and question her at every turn. The Red Court was actually the ideal option.

“Diana and I are like oil and water—we don’t go well together. And I don’t know Kelly, nor do I find her particularly appealing. But you, I could see myself working with. From what I’ve gathered, you fly under the radar. You’re court is the eyes and ears of the Inner Circle and this club. You know how to manipulate, gather, and use information to get what you want. I appreciate that. But you need a stronghold, and I can be that.”

She could see the inner workings of Helena’s mind turning. HA, she got her there. The Red Court was the mysterious court of the Inner Circle and not many people knew exactly what they were capable of. But with someone as high profile as Persephone in their midst, they wouldn’t question it anymore. Ava could tell Helena enjoyed that notion. She could tell Helena wanted that.

Helena: “I have to admit, I’ve always found you intriguing. You’ve lived a long life of power without consequence, then suddenly….poof….it was all gone. There’s a darkness inside you that is just itching to get out….one that’s been too long kept at bay. If what you say is true, then the Inner Circle would certainly feed your desire for blood. [in a whisper] But if you’re lying….”

Ava could feel the heat from Helena’s breath on her ear.

“I’m not.”

Helena moved directly in front of Ava, their eyes locking. It was then, Helena began to move her fingers down Ava’s throat until finally wrapping them around her neck.

Helena: “Diana may think little of you, but she also can’t see beyond her hatred and anger that you hold sway over her precious little Scion. That is her greatest flaw.….not seeing the potential and grabbing it by the balls despite her distain. I, on the other hand, see what your potential is to the Inner Circle. You could be a very good asset to me and my court….But let me make one thing perfectly clear….If I allow you to join, you answer to ME. You BELONG to ME. There will be no more Six. There will be no more family outside of this club. There will only be your loyalty to the Inner Circle, the Red Court, and most importantly, TO ME. And if you EVER disobey me…or commit an act of subterfuge, I will make sure to give Diana the pleasure of forcing little Scion to bury you into the ground. I may not flex my muscles like Diana often, but I WILL when I’m FUCKED with. Do you understand?”

Helena was strong, but Ava didn’t waver as she continued to look the Queen dead in her eyes. She stared almost uncomfortably, like she were looking deep into Helena’s soul….did she want to relent? No. Did she want to throw the bitch into the bar? Yes. But she needed this. It was her only option left so she pushed down all bubbling thoughts of murder and agreed.

“Yes.”

Helena immediately released her throat, petting her triumphantly. Rolling her eyes, great….she just got into bed with the she-devil in red. If Alison ever told her THIS would have happened in her future, Ava would of laughed straight in the precog’s face. Helena returned and handed Ava a glass of champagne, toasting their newfound relationship.

Helena: “Welcome to the Red Court…my Rook.”

[deadpan] “It’ll be a party.”

Clinking her glass with Helena’s, it was then she reminded Ava that in no certain terms that she would not be following Diana or Kelly’s orders in any way, shape, or form. And if they had a problem with her, Helena would handle it. Now THIS made Ava smile with pleasure. Diana and Kelly couldn’t touch her, at least not without the wrath of Helena falling upon them. So, maybe there were benefits to this Red Court thing.

Helena: “Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

Ava downed half the champagne in one gulp.

Helena: “Now….what to do about that god awful black dress….”

Ava grimaced.

“Oh come on….I really don’t want—“

Before Ava could even finished, Helena had already snapped her fingers and morphed her beautiful black dress into a new blood red gown. Looking down at herself, it was like she was looking at a completely different person. Red….RED…ugh….she would definitely have to get used to this bullshittery.

Helena: “PERFECT! Now see, don’t you feel sexier already.”

[sarcastically] “I feel something, that’s for sure.”

Helena: “Get used to it darling! Now go downstairs and make face with the commoners. You represent ME now Persephone, remember that. OH! And I’ll have the staff prepare your new chambers in the Red Wing. Be good! Who am I kidding? Be your true self my love.”

Helena ordered with wicked glee before exiting the Red Lounge. And with that, Ava Cassadine was now apart of the Inner Circle.