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

[kinetic_assault]

"Thank you. I care deeply for her and the feeling is mutual." Brianna said, thinking little of confessing something so personal to Reginald. He was kind to her and he didn't treat her like a child, something her parents had yet to pick up on, especially her mother.

"New York has too much going on as it is. I do hope that we can have a civilized event without someone deciding to be crass and rob the place." she said.

"What do you know about this Hellfire Club, Mister Crane? Anything that might help a girl navigate the waters here?"

[ngm_hellfire]

"Of course. If I may say, you two make a rather good team as well." Reginald actually chuckled faintly. He seemed rather reserved, but there was warmth beneath the surface. Most of it was probably just his training as a lawyer. One didn't get to lead Shaw Industries's legal team without a great deal of discipline.

"I dare say, such a thing would be disastrous. The Hellfire Club takes security very seriously. And besides, you and Kayla would be on hand to rescue us from any trouble." Reginald paused for a moment, as if he was considering telling her something.

"Brianna, may we speak in confidence? There's something you should know about tonight." Crane took a breath. "I want you to promise, first, that you do not tell a word of this to anyone other than Kayla. It is a matter of the utmost importance."

He trusted her with what sounded like an important secret. How could anyone not honor such trust? He'd helped her so much already.

[kinetic_assault]

A cold lump settled in Brianna's stomach as Reginald spoke. She wasn't afraid of /him/ per se but whatever he wanted to speak about sounded serious. It sounded like something she'd regret knowing by the end of the night. She took a sip of her water and then nodded to Reginald.

"You have my word, Mr. Crane. Will there /be/ trouble tonight?" she asked him, looking around the room. She also checked to make sure the exits were in the places she'd last seen them. If she had to get Kayla out of here in a hurry, she didn't want to get caught in the throng of humanity going for the main door.

Nevermind that Kayla was extremely capable of protecting herself (and Brianna to boot); Brianna always kept Kayla's safety at the front of her mind, knowing as she did that Kayla took risks that weren't always necessary.

[ngm_hellfire]

Why would she be afraid of him? But his voice was serious.

"Trouble? No." He moved them aside somewhat. "Indeed, there's an opportunity for you, should you choose to take it." He took a small breath. "Have you wondered why the Hellfire Club is suddenly prominent in New York again after a considerable period of decline? Since Mr. Shaw's unfortunate death?"

[kinetic_assault]

"An...opportunity?" she asked, not quite sure what he meant. She knew little of the Hellfire Club aside from what she gathered from the covert research she managed to do.

"Yes, I have wondered what all of this is about but I was starting to think that someone just got a urge to start up a decadent club for the idle rich and the bored socialites who take pride in playing with people's lives." she said.

"What kind of opportunity do you think is here for me?" she asked.

[ngm_hellfire]

"The Hellfire Club is something far more than that, Brianna. It is the leadership of the mutant world. Yes, the Hellfire Club's masters are rich and powerful people, but they're also mutants. Our hope is to foster the next generation of our people." Crane smiled slightly.

"We're interested in having you join us in that mission." There it was, the offer. He was proud of her, and fully expected she'd succeed spectacularly in her role.

"How would you like to become a leader in the next generation of mutants, Brianna?"

[kinetic_assault]

Brianna thought over what Reginald was saying. He wanted /her/ to become a leader of mutants? The idea excited her but something about it worried her as well. How would they lead mutants? Would it be different from how the X-Men operated?

"I'd love to. We're under attack right now from people who want to hurt us for any number of reasons." Brianna said, thinking over just how close Kayla had come to being attacked by that monster Vargas. If she'd been in the shop that day...Brianna tried not to think about it. She was sad about the death that did occur that day it was wrong for anyone to be murdered for showing compassion to mutants.

"What would I have to do to join?" she asked.

[ngm_hellfire]

"We are, you're correct. The loathsome business with the Stryker Crusade simply proves that we must remain vigilant." Crane's deep disgust with bigots shone through, along with his sympathy for her understandable resentment towards the issue.

"For now? You would be required to attend more of these social events. To excel in the use of your abilities, mutant and otherwise, as much as you can. To keep an eye out for us, for other mutants with similar talents.

The head of the Hellfire Club, however, will be coming to speak shortly. I'm told he wishes to have a few words with you as well."

[kinetic_assault]

"I thought there was no head of the Hellfire Club?" Brianna said, looking to Reginald with a little confusion. She leaned in and lowered her voice.

"I was under the impression that the old guard of the club either died or retired years ago. Who is in charge now?" she asked.

And what could this person possibly want with her?

[ngm_hellfire]

"That was true until quite recently." Reginald replied. "That is part of what tonight is about. Of course, most of the people here don't understand the full import of tonight's events. Though they'll be in for quite a surprise, I promise you."

He smiled thinly, almost imperceptibly. "I can't tell you that, but you'll find out for yourself in ..." He checked his watch. "About ten minutes or so."

[seismic_shockwave]

"Hey, Mr. Crane." Kayla sidled up to Brianna and looped an arm around her. "Sorry. I got kinda lost. This place is basically the size of my entire city back home." She had to fight off a yawn. And then she looked around and realized they looked rather serious.

"Am I, uh, interrupting anything? I could go find some coffee or something." She managed a tired smile.