The parents of NextGenerationMarvel (
ngm_parents) wrote in
nextgenerationmarvel2013-06-09 09:58 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
From The Dead (Narrative, will be followed by threads)
It had been a delicate piece of work, feigning his own death, and even more delicate to ensure that he had the funds he needed to operate his long-term schemes while leaving the publicly-known, above-ground wealth of Shaw Industries alone, and keeping other Shaws from knowing. The financial chaos surrounding his estate provided a useful smokescreen, aided and abetted by close allies among the Shaw Industries top brass and elsewhere. But now the time had come to reemerge, to make his presence known. To let his wayward family know that Sebastian Shaw was not dead. To take the reins of the Shaw empire and shape the future.
Shinobi Shaw had been a treacherous little worm, and he needed to be eliminated. Alistaire had performed that function, though with a decided lack of finesse. Too much collateral damage. He would have to speak to the boy about that, though it was in his own interest to make sure that the incident be covered up. The boy's connections to Selene were far more problematic- Sebastian would have to determine where his loyalties truly lay and act accordingly. The Black Queen had been quiet as of late, but she was very much alive and would no doubt seek to undermine his plans once she got word of them.
Then there was the girl. Stephanie, a latterly-arrived bastard child from a fairly unremarkable liason with a Spanish woman. The girl had shown real talent, particularly for business. And she seemed to have admirably ambitious plans for a sizeable area of the city. Ones that he could support in its broad strokes, though there were many signs of excess sentimentality in its conception. Perhaps, though, it could be turned towards something genuinely useful, as long as it was remembered that the primary goal of the Club was to build a mutant elite and sustain it.
Worst of all, both of them had outed themselves as mutants, which would make things considerably more difficult. Stephanie had even gone so far as to say that he himself was a mutant, which would throw all manner of his past actions into a harsh public light if people cared to look. In his mind, they had both made a serious tactical mistake there, though perhaps it was understandable enough given the circumstances at the time. Sebastian was confidant he would be able to handle any issues relating to it.
There was potential, then, for the Shaw dynasty, but it would have to be carefully constrained and guided. The Shaw name had taken a frightful battering in the last few years and that would have to be put to rights. As for the Hellfire Club, the New York branch had faded into virtual oblivion. That would also have to be put to rights, though during his imposed exile, he had been created Lord Paramount of the international Hellfire Club, the ultimate authority of all the otherwise autonomous Hellfire Clubs around the world.
It was settled, then, that the children would have to learn how to manage affairs in their fiefdom of New York, but quickly, as Sebastian had a global empire to run and could not spare more than the necessary time. The girl could be trusted with the bulk of his interest in Shaw Industries- his men had positive reports on her skill, and Alistaire was well-known to be an excellent host. Perhaps the boy could turn his talents towards making the New York Hellfire club an essential destination for New York's elite again.
The rest of the ranks of the Club remained frightfully empty. New nobility would have to be created, possibly from the next generation of the traditional mutant elite, but possibly also previously unaffiliated individuals. Soon, Sebastian would reveal himself to the younger Shaws. And then the Hellfire Club's grand plans for the future of mutantkind could truly begin to unfold, with the Shaws at the forefront of it, just as it should be.
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
He is processing this all a bit differently. Inside is some carefully restrained outrage and offense over being manipulated thusly. His father's play had to have been put in motion by Grandfather. Which, in hindsight, made more sense. Alistaire didn't mourn the loss of the bastard, which he was in every sense of the word, but to have been used as a catspawlike that was an affront he would have to settle one day. There's also a measure of concern for Stephanie. His dear aunt's feelings about the Club were hardly kept secret; and now she was being dragged right into things...
The truly hideous part was that she would still have to do so of her own free will.
Alistaire's aunt was one of maybe a scant half dozen people on Earth that he felt some genuine affection for. He was going to have to have words with her later. Away from Grandfather.
"I have someone in mind for my Knight... but you probably already know that. I'm less certain about my Rook and Bishop, but I have my intel to review." He gets back to business. "My Lady has been notably absent the past several months... I suggest we all brace ourselves for her return. She won't take this quietly.
"Beyond that... I say it is well past time for the old Hellfire bloodlines to be brought into the new order of things. Kicking and screaming, if it comes to that."
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
"Your wit serves you well enough as a host at parties, but you will be more respectful with me. I am your Lord Paramount, and what's more, your grandfather. We will discuss specifics of the individuals you are interested in promoting at another time. I expect that Stephanie will also have those she will want to forward for Inner Circle membership."
When Alistaire mentioned Selene, though, he got a rather unusual look on his face, as if he were threatening to grin but holding back for the good of his dear family. Somehow, that threat of a smile was infinitely worse than the real thing. "Indeed, she will not. But she will find herself in a starkly vulnerable position. Her strength lies with the Parisian Hellfire Club, to which she decamped after my disappearance. All of her allies, friends and thralls, gathered in a single chateau."
Hardwood panels in the floors rise up to reveal television screens, playing a horrific scene of slaughter, men and women in full Hellfire costume lying on the ground, riddled with bullets, suriyuken, some pinned to the wall with harpoons, beaten to a pulp.
"Powerful as Selene is, she is hardly known for her courage. With her entire base of support liquidated ... she has already requested terms of truce. I have no doubt that she will desire vengeance in the future, but she is in no position to accomplish it. That being said, I intend on granting her the truce, on generous terms.
And Alistaire? Do not ever refer to her as 'My Lady' again. If all goes well, you will be at least her equal. In any case, I will not brook any hesitation about whom you truly support."
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
And then Sebastian ... it was like he was threatening to smile and it was frightening. It was clearly him, but something had changed. Father had always been a hard and intimidating man, but this was different. He had been just as quick with a grin or his own particular brand of encouragement. She was tempted, to think, that he was being manipulated, but this determination felt so real, so steely that the thought banished itself quickly.
And then the hardwood rose and the scenes of carnage came up and it was all she could do to hold still. She forced herself to look, to remain strong, to not act completely like a scared little girl. Many of those people were probably powerful and dangerous people, supporters of Selene that could cause real problems for them. But ... many of them were also simple hangers-on, bored people looking for vicarious thrills.
Most of them were innocent of any crime past decadent curiosity. They did not deserve to die thusly.
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
It didn't look so much like he was holding back a smile as he was stopping himself from showing his teeth. And then the screens began to play.
Alistaire manages to hold off all but a faint twitching at the corner of one eye, as he takes the drink his grandfather had poured. He downs it in one smooth draw, before delicately wiping the corner of his mouth with a thumb. Oh Grandfather... what have you become?
"What a waste of cloth and wine..." is what he brings out of his mouth.
"I see what the shape of things are to be."
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
Alistaire's package included a deed to the Hellfire Club's primary New York property, as well as a promise of an exceedingly generous stipend. One of Sebastian's art collections had also been willed to him, to do as he desired with, as well as various smaller properties to be dispensed with as he pleased. It also included a custom-made Hellfire Club formal outfit, designed with Alistaire's sartorial preferences as far as the colonial styling permitted.
Stephanie's package included confirmation of her status as a board member of Shaw Industries, with a smaller stipend but a larger part of the Shaw stock portfolio. It also included deeds to numerous properties around the 11th street shelter, including relatively prime locations. Finally, it included a Hellfire Club formal outfit, cut a little more conservatively than the norm for the outfit and with the benefit of a cape.
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
As for the rest of it, there was no doubting that it satisfied many of the needs she had regarding the area around the Shelter. With full access to her father's web of connections, it would make things so much easier. But it absolutely reeked of a bandaid solution- not unlike an abusive husband buying his wife flowers and chocolates after beating her. It did not pay back for all that they had gone through since he died, so much of it at his behest.
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
"Excellent cut."
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
He raised his glass in a toast. "To family. It is all we truly possess."
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
She had little doubt that she would have to get involved in the Hellfire Club's grand games, but she would do her best to ensure that some good work was done along with all the inevitable Illuminati-scheming. As soon as her mind started functioning again.
Re: Gathering the Children (forward dated slightly, to when Alistaire is able to move some)
He joins the toast, giving Stephanie a look to signify the importance of the gesture as well. "To family."
The game is on.