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]

"Very well." Sebastian shrugged and sipped his drink. "I suppose that will be changing soon enough, won't it?"

New York upper society would've frowned upon Sebastian for being Irish, let alone Marcelo for being black, if they'd had the chance. The key was to have so much power and clout that nobody could say anything about it.

"Sentimentality." Sebastian repeated his word for a moment. "But what, specifically? Surely you must have a goal or a cause."

"Stephanie, of course, wants to make the world a better and safer place for mutants. And for mutant and human coexistence." Sebastian chuckled. "You certainly can't call her a hypocrite on that regard, can you?"

[vesper_verde]

"No, I don't suspect it will. I'm marrying your daughter, not you," he answered honestly. He was getting tired. Tired of his own constant fear and regret every night since Veridian had been attacked. Tonight just pushed things to almost unbearable. Marcelo could only cling to that he was in the right.

"My goal? To make sure no child no matter their station in life does not go through what I did. That is why Veridian works with law enforcement, agriculture, and energy production rather than putting all our eggs into the military industrial complex."

He snagged a drink off a passing waiter's tray and took a swig. It didn't matter what the hell it was as long as there was the soft burn of alcohol. "No, I can't. She is refreshingly honest."

[ngm_hellfire]

"Then allow me to be equally honest, Marcelo." Sebastian replied.

"I do not give you my blessing or permission to marry into my family and sully the future of the Hellfire Club, of Shaw Industries." Sebastian looked over to Stephanie.

Though the literal words, while hostile, would not likely be taken as an outright threat to any people in the public who might have heard it, the context was clear. He was not known for an ability to graciously hear dissenting views from his. Especially not from people he considered to be his enemies, as Marcelo more and more clearly was showing himself to be.

"You will not be marrying my daughter."

[vesper_verde]

Marcelo laughed at that like it was a quaint joke. He took another sip of his drink.

"I frankly don't care for your blessing nor do I need your permission to marry her. You are not my father, and you certainly have done little to nothing to earn that title for her. I don't care to join your sycophantic family. Any business between Veridian and Shaw Industries contracted during Stephanie's leadership will run its course and then I will have nothing to do with the company so long as you control it."