A Gift Of Blood And Steel (Open to Mansion Folk)

[ngm_villains]

WHO: Stephanie Shaw, Others
WHAT: Stephanie Shaw is taken by Vargas and left out for the people at the Mansion to find. 
WHERE: The Mansion gate
WHEN: Early morning 
WARNING: Description of trauma and violence. 

Stephanie Shaw had called a press conference with as many media outlets as she could access- while it was nominally to clear the air about her legal situation involving Shaw Industries, many wags suspected that she would be admitting to being a mutant like her brother. No doubt it would have been a very dignified moment, well-rehearsed and delivered with equal measures of honesty and tact. Vargas had actually taken the speech off of her. It was impressive enough and had she been able to say those words on a wide stage, they may have had some impact. 

She'd never got to the presentation to deliver her message. Vargas had seen to that with his men. A toxin, administered with minimal force through a mere scratch from his blade had removed her mutant powers temporarily, leaving her effectively helpless. Ironic that a woman that could have survived a fall from the top floor of the Empire State Building would be so vulnerable to such a slight wound. But he knew her fiendish powers well, had seen them at that party. Taking her was not difficult. The driver and the attendant had to be slain, but their deaths were quick, virtually painless. It was up to God to judge them now. 

He'd made sure she was conscious as far as he could, for the process of making her a suitable gift for her alma mater. She'd tried her best to be defiant, but she was too used to shallow scrapes and minor bruises to be at all prepared for the sensation of dislocation, of cutting. It was important that she be left alive, so he could not use his blade too liberally- and it was unsuitable to engage in dismemberment, as it was difficult to say how long she would be obliged to remain alive from the time she was deposited and the time she was discovered. She'd finally gone unconscious of course, and it would be easier to transport her thus. 

Shinobi had said to kill her, of course, but Vargas cared not for his commandments. He had been useful in showing the way to her, no more and no less. He expected that Shinobi's boy would come to kill him and that suited him just fine. This was a holy crusade. He had been chosen as a champion, to show humanity that the mutants could be torn down, defeated. 

Dislocated limbs were easier to work into the grill of the gates, a sign stating "The First Among Many" in Latin affixed to the gate above her. She was bloodied, bruised, unconscious and in serious need of medical attention, but she would survive for at least the few hours that would likely elapse between then and the time she was discovered. Twisted bits of metal were made into manacles holding her in place. He'd dressed her in white wrappings, which would slowly turn to crimson as blood seeped. And with that, he left. 

Comments

[nohoundsallowed]

The intercom was always a whichever adult was closest could answer it kind of affair. Unfortunately for someone, it happened to be Rachel. She sighed to herself before punching the comm button.

"Well, Alistaire Anton Shaw, get back in the car and ride down the long driveway to visitor's parking. You will be allowed inside. Any associates with you will have to stay in the vehicle."

[hellfire_child]

"Less than desirable..." Alistaire glances at Alisa. "--, but acceptable. I'll be around shortly." He gives the nod to Alisa as he gets back in. "Pull around. You're staying out here."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Sighing, she did as told, turning the car about and driving into the visitor's parking lot. She parked the car as closely as she could to the path that lead up to the front of the Mansion.

"If you need me, please do not hesitate to call, Boss." She tried to hide the worry in her tone of voice and just sat in the front seat with her back straight and her hands in her lap.

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire lays a casual kiss on her head. "Relax. I'm not here to go to war. That's tomorrow." He gets out and walks towards the building.

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel emerged from the front door. Her posture and facial expressions were calm, but Doug could feel the annoyance and distaste she was hiding through their rapport. The only reason Alistaire was allowed even this far was because Stephanie requested he be able to visit.

"This way," she said when Alistaire was close enough. She would personally see him to his aunt and back out to the car.

She held little trust for anyone associated with the Hellfire Club until they had proven themselves. Add onto that any association with Selene and Rachel verged on absolutely no trust.

[hellfire_child]

One doesn't have to be a telepath to tell he's not welcome here. Alistaire gives his usual casual shrug, giving her a polite smile and nod as he follows her. "As you wish."

He doesn't stray from following her, but he can't resist pushing the envelope just a little bit. He takes in everything around him that he can manage as he is lead to Stephanie.

[pyroprincess]

Stephanie was in an incredible amount of pain right now, as she'd delayed taking pain medication so she could speak to Alistaire and remain on a certain level of coherence. Her bruises had started to fade, but save from an oddly perfect face, her body was a mosaic of cuts and bruises, most of them hidden, but enough of them visible to give signs of very serious injury.

"Alice. How good of you to visit. I'd get up, but that's not really possible right now." She managed to wrench herself into a sitting position, though. "I trust you were received with open arms." She manages a slight smirk.

[hellfire_child]

"Auntie. Save your energy. You clearly need it to come up with new material." Alistaire replies evenly, lacking his usual jovial nature. He takes in the injuries to her. The reports had been accurate, but it still wasn't the same as seeing it in person. Right then, Alistaire made up his mind. Whatever message this Vargas was trying to send, even despite whatever his connections to Lady Selene might be, he was going to die. No other outcome was acceptable.

He sits down next to the bed, focusing on his words so as not to let his thoughts wander around the psychic. "Xavier hospitality is less warm than I would have expected. Nobody's even offered me a uniform yet, much less some decent scotch."

[pyroprincess]

"I don't even know if they have decent scotch, they certainly haven't offered any to me, and I'm alumni. Very miserly, if you ask me. It'll be coming out of my donation next year." Of course, that was a joke of sorts. The Mansion didn't solicit fundraising.

"I imagine you'll be out of town tomorrow?" She thought as loudly as she could about Marcelo. But the implication was clear enough. She expected he would solve the Shinobi problem soon.

Then Vargas, it would be his turn.

[hellfire_child]

"Yeah... business isn't going as smoothly as I'd hoped." He shrugs lazily, reclining in his chair. "They're keeping you comfortable here?"

[pyroprincess]

"I can't complain. I've basically been assigned my own nurse. They don't serve alcohol, but I suppose a hospital wouldn't, either." She laughed a little wryly. "But the security is top-notch and the medical care is as good as I could get anywhere. I should be up on my feet again in a week."

"Which is going to be a week of pure unadulturated Hell."

[hellfire_child]

"You're a Shaw. You'll endure." Alistaire replies simply. "I'm going to need you and your better public face soon enough. My business acumen isn't as sharp as yours or Grandfather's."

[pyroprincess]

"You'll have it soon enough. I'm speaking to the public about this outrage as soon as I can. I will not let this creature bow me. As you say, I am a Shaw." Her face turned serious and grim, despite the feminine features and Iberian features, a dead cast for her father.

"Shaws always pay their debts."