A Grand Soiree [Open to anyone with potential business at the NYC branch of the Hellfire Club]

[ngm_hellfire]

"There hasn't been a party like this in years at this location, has there?" Sebastian turned towards Tessa, or rather, the clone of her that Essex had made for him. It was true, though, there was an energy in the old place that hadn't been seen ever since before he died for the first time. They didn't know yet, that he would take this moment to make his reemegence into the public eye, but there were rumours that there would be a grand surprise.

"No, sir. Attendance at the New York branch's soirees has been declining for some years." Tessa replied crisply. He wondered, vaguely, what the original Tessa would think of this pitch-perfect copy of her. As for Tessa's part, she was aware of Sage's existence and regarded it as nothing more than a vague curiosity.

Sebastian continued to watch guests filing in through the cameras at the command centre he'd installed some years ago beneath the halls of the Hellfire Club.

"What about my would-be heirs?" Sebastian spoke with a faint sneer. Disappointing as they were in many ways, they were his family. His legacy. They would have to do. He couldn't have another Shinobi on his hands.

"I expect they will both attend. I've spotted Stephanie, but but Alistaire as of yet." Tessa replied again.

"Good. And others have been invited too. The Braddock and the Worthington girls." Sebastian turned again towards the monitors. "Keep a close eye on the witch, would you? I won't have her ruining my night."

"Yes, sir."

Sebastian lifted a glass of fine whisky to his lips and took a slow sip, watching the event unfolding before him. A grand collection of the finest of New York society. A fine audience for him to emerge before, like the phoenix.

Comments

[ngm_hellfire]

"Why hello there." A confidant man in a bright white suit spoke, his green hair separating him slightly amid the mostly conservative-looking crowd.

Trevor Fitzroy looked like he was enjoying the night, though it was hard to tell if he was actually having a good time or if it was simply put upon. He looked like he'd been working on that flawless grin for a long time.

He extended his hand. "Trevor Fitzroy. And whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

[wateronthebrain]

"Erin Sterling," she smiles warmly. The suit is a little too white.

Too bad these people don't believe in color options. She won't say that though. She will just keep track of exactly where his hands end up. Anywhere she doesn't care for them to be and she will politely remove them.

[ngm_hellfire]

"Ah. It's an honour meeting you." If she takes his hand, he'd kiss it instead of shaking it. His mannerisms were a touch on the foppish side. A sign, perhaps, that he is new to this particular social milieu.

"Hopefully the glare of the suit isn't hurting your eyes." He smirked faintly. "An outward sign of my status in the Club. Quite mandatory."

"May I get you a drink? I've access to some finer goods than what they're serving to the general public here." Fitzroy smirked faintly.

[wateronthebrain]

"Nothing alcoholic, please. Feel free to surprise me otherwise," Erin decides trying to act as gracious as she can.

The kiss to her hand is a bit too much but she can deal with it. She had seen worse.

"I'm not so used to these things. I didn't expect the... dress code within the club." She finds herself smirking. "It's a good thing I'm a guest. I'd feel so awkward otherwise."

[ngm_hellfire]

"You should've seen things in the old days. The outfits for female members were quite ... interesting." Not that he'd mind seeing her in those in the slightest. Non-alcoholic. That did make things more difficult. But he's able to whip something up with much of the same flavour as a proper cocktail.

"You picked quite a night to be a guest, Miss Sterling. There's a very, very large announcement that's going to be made tonight. I can't tell you what it is of course, but rest assured, you'll be quite amazed."

[wateronthebrain]

"I've seen... a few pictures that have gotten out," Erin allows. She is trying to not react to the people here. Not strongly. She understands this is different from parties that she had been brought to with her parents.

"This was the first time I've been invited." She smiles pleasantly. "I'm sure it will be quite the surprise. I have to admit I'm a little curious but I can wait."

[ngm_hellfire]

"It won't be long now." Fitzroy replied, grinning and swirling his own glass of Louis XII cognac before taking a sip. Ah, wealth certainly agreed with him. Working with the Hellfire Club really was more profitable than trying to kill them all.

"And it won't be the last, I assure you. So if I may ask, what is the family business?"

[wateronthebrain]

"A little bit of everything," Erin said cheekily. Then chuckles sitting at the drink he had gotten her. It's excellent.

"We own.... quite a few different things that don't seem very related on the surface. I'm not sure where it ends given how much like a dragon my father gets when it comes to most of it. I'm being asked to undertake the asset management group we run. It's a good use of my gift with numbers."

She knows about the logging company, the art galleries, and the LA-based law firm that her father is trying to have expand into Seattle. An interesting choice really. She just isn't sure what his plans are for the future.

"While my father can be... hard to get along with I agree with him on one thing. If you have money you shouldn't just sit around. Trying to make something of yourself is important. Money just helps give you opportunities you might not get otherwise."

[ngm_hellfire]

"Specialization is for insects. Or so one of my favorite authors famously said." Fitzroy noted smoothly. "It's always wise to diversify one's interests." He finished his drink.

"Care to dance, Ms. Sterling?" He offered his hand.

[wateronthebrain]

"I suppose that's true. Keeping to just one thing would be boring. Life is too short for that," she said keeping an agreeable tone. It's why she is hoping to get her hands on a few extra things to keep her mind busy. She loves the challenge. Her drink is mostly done.

"I would love to." There's no reason to refuse. So far he isn't so bad to talk with. Dancing should prove fun, thank god for sensible shoes.

[ngm_hellfire]

"Dreadfully boring." Though Fitzroy was clearly not from old blood or anything like it, once he took her hand and let her on the dance floor, it was clear that he knew what he was doing. He went close to her, but not too close- nor did he take any egregious liberties with his hands. He imagined that this one would have be played delicately.

"Tell me, Miss Sterling, what would you like out of the Hellfire Club?" He looked at her intently as they twirled on the dancefloor.

[wateronthebrain]

He's obviously one of the newly rich sorts. Erin doesn't look down on that kind of person. She thinks being able to earn one's way into the kind of fortune she was born to is really admirable. Also it was cool knowing they understood a side of life she couldn't begin to.

She knew she was pretty much a rich princess kind of girl. That is perfectly fine with her.

"I..... never actually considered joining." She smiles slightly. "I've only been outted as a.... mutant since this winter. I had no intention of drawing attention to myself. My father's advice. He believed that with power like mine.... people might not respect me for my other merits. They see someone as a mutant first, I've noticed."

[ngm_hellfire]

"Here at the Hellfire Club ... we celebrate all of the talents people are born with or acquire in their lives, not just one or two." Fitzroy twirled her elegantly.

"If I may be so bold, though, what are your mutant powers?" He grinned at her.

[wateronthebrain]

"So, the more talents a person pursues, the better?" She thinks he is an excellent dance partner. She moves easily with him.

"I'm an aquakinetic. I'd... fairly powerful in the sense I can detect water molecules in the air to draw from if I need to." She looks rather proud of that fact.

"Do you remember the Frost Giant attack on New York?"